Mabuza apologises to Sebokeng residents for sewage problems

Deputy President David Mabuza has apologised to residents of Sebokeng for government’s delayed reaction to the ongoing raw sewage problem in the Emfuleni Municipality.

Mabuza was joined by Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and some Gauteng MECs on a site visit to the contaminated area on Tuesday to assess the progress at the Sebokeng Waste Water Treatment Facility.

The South African Human Rights Commission has, on several occasions, criticised government for its ineffective response to the sewage spill problem in the Vaal.

Thousands of residents have been living in appalling conditions due to the raw sewage that has been flowing into the Vaal River and into the municipal pumps for years now.

Some households are grappling with a stench that’s affected the health of family members.

The only words that Mabuza could tell the Emfuleni residents were that government was sorry for the situation.

“We want to apologise for the time we have taken to deal with the problem.”

Last year, Mabuza visited the area after a South African National Defence Force project dedicated to addressing the problem stalled when R350 million earmarked for the work ran out.

And it seems there has not been much change since the deputy president’s visit last year with residents vowing to stay away from this year’s local government elections.

Source: EWN