Sewage spill still not fixed by Central Karoo District Mayor

Dear Editor

Further to our visit to Newton Park, Leeu Gamka on the 8th August 2022, we conducted oversight on the 15th August, 2022. It was evident that the Central Karoo District Mayor had dispatched his Contractor to make good on some of the issues that we raised after our first visit. Sadly, the effort to cover the sewage spill was incomplete as there is still sewage in the area which poses a health risk and violates the National Environmental Management Act. See photos here, here & here.

The efforts to secure the open drains and sewage infrastructure is suboptimal and does not meet the South African National Standard’s requirements. There is no evidence of quality assurance. The cement of one of the drains is already cracking and some are still shored up with rocks. Another drain is leaking sewage into the nearby river and underground natural resources.

Most concerning is the fact that Health, Safety and Environmental protocols have not been followed since the inception of the illegal work done here. Children are still playing in the area, since it has not been cordoned off yet.

It is important to reiterate that the District Mayor ignored the letter from Prince Albert Municipality, requesting him to follow the Procurement process and provide approval for construction design, technical design reports, as well as the employment of a CIDB accredited contractor.

Our visit highlighted the following:

• That this project was initiated without approval from the Prince Albert Municipality.
• That there was and is no funding allocated for this project by the Municipality.
• The scope of work is in no way based on standard specifications.
• The entire project poses a Health, Safety and Environmental risk because it does not meet minimum requirements.
• The substandard work has placed the Municipality under pressure as citizens are expecting the Municipality to address the sewage spill. This also impacts the local government’s budget and operational activities.

  Our appeal to the District Mayor is to engage the Prince Albert Municipality urgently, in an effort to remedy this illegal work and ensure that all risks and regulatory requirements have been addressed at his own expense and not that of the Municipality, since the District Mayor embarked on this project without the required processes being followed and approvals sought.

The land and surrounding houses affected by the sewage spill belongs to TRANSNET. The District Municipality and the Prince Albert Municipality has on several occasions written to TRANSNET requesting a transfer of the land to the municipality in order to provide dignified ablution facilities – to date TRANSNET has not responded to any of the correspondence.

The liability for this failure of epic proportions, resides with the District Mayor who needs to familiarize himself with all legislation pertinent to all spheres of Government and his role as the District Mayor!

Regards

Sharna Fernandez
DA Constituency Head, Prince Albert & Laingsburg