Zonkizizwe residents forced to live in unsanitary conditions

by Cllr. Simangele Sabe — DA PR Councillor in Ekurhuleni

Date: 03 June 2021

Release: Immediate

Type: Media Statement

Massive and persistent sewer leaks have been the daily reality of the neglected residents of Zonkizizwe. The community of Zonkizizwe has reached out to the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni, as they believe that they have been neglected by the ANC and its coalition partners in the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) because of the appalling living conditions they must endure, caused by the persistent sewer leak.

The DA is absolutely shocked that the CoE has done nothing to repair this sewage spill which is a massive health hazard for the community. This, after the ANC and its coalition partners* voted to raise residents’ sanitation bill by 8% this year.

The ANC-led Metro has shamelessly failed to deliver on Local Government’s mandate to create and promote a safe and healthy environment for these communities. It is totally unacceptable that residents are forced to endure such inhumane and degrading conditions.

Children are the most vulnerable as they continually find themselves playing on these sewer-flooded streets; constantly at risk of contracting airborne diseases. The sewer leak is a symptom of aging sewer infrastructure that is near collapse. More worrying is the fact that pleas to the ANC and its coalition partners in the CoE to have the problem attended to, have fallen on deaf ears.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni, therefore, calls upon the MMC of Water, Sanitation and Energy, Cllr. Tiisetso Nketle, as well as the MMC of Environmental Resources and Waste Management, Ald. Khosi Mabaso, to find a lasting solution to the sewer problems in Ekurhuleni to avert further pollution in the City and environment.

The residents of Ekurhuleni deserve a well-run government that delivers basic services and provides a healthy and safe environment. A DA-run Ekurhuleni will be committed and determined to deliver on the basic rights of residents by ensuring effective and responsive service delivery.

#Time4Change

*ANC Coalition Partners: African Independent Congress (AIC), Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), Patriotic Alliance (PA) and Independent Ratepayers Association of South Africa (IRASA)

Media Enquiries

Cllr. Simangele Sabe

DA PR Councillor in Ekurhuleni