Despite residents of Laudium/Erasmia complaining frequently about the ANC-led Tshwane Council’s poor service delivery and about the rampant corruption in the Council, the ANC’s Cllr Naeem Patel and his ‘lackeys’ still have the audacity to ask residents to vote for the ANC in the forthcoming local government elections on November 4.
It is evident that the ANC has failed the community dismally, concerning service delivery, with residents waiting for weeks, months and at times even years for their complaints to be attended to.
In one of the many complaints received by the Laudium Sun recently, concerning poor service delivery, residents of Aletta Street, Erasmia, have complained of a manhole drain overflowing with sewage, for about a week already. The residents who noticed the overflow last Tuesday, (June 16), said that there has been a disgusting stench in the air since then and that the strong unbearable smell and sewage spill has caused an unhealthy environment, adding that they are disappointed with the Council’s slow response and lack of urgency, despite complaining a number of times and relaying the urgency of the matter. Despite closing all windows and doors of their homes, residents say that the smell is affecting them badly, even in their homes.
Tony Pillay of Aletta Street, told the Laudium Sun, “It is very unfortunate to say that our Ward Councillor, Naeem Patel, does not really care about the residents of Erasmia. This sewage leak was reported to the Council office, immediately when it was noticed, yet it was not treated with the urgency it deserved. Instead of immediate action, residents are forced to wait until the Council decides when it will be suitable for them to come out. It’s five days already and our complaint has still not been attended to. During this time, the situation has become unbearable for all of us living in the area. The strong and foul smell coming from the sewage leak, has filled the air on the street and nearby homes, with an unacceptable nasty odour, making our daily life extremely uncomfortable. In addition to the smell, faeces could be seen flowing openly along the street, creating a disturbing and unhealthy environment for everyone, especially children and elderly residents. The condition of the area is truly terrible and despite multiple complaints made to the Council when the blocked manhole problem first started, there was no urgent response from them. It is disappointing as we have had to endure days of discomfort and potential health risks. This is not acceptable at all, as this is not a just a normal water leakage, but a serious sewage problem that is posing a major health hazard to the entire neighbourhood. Complaints of this nature should be treated as emergencies, with immediate attention given to prevent further harm. The delay in fixing the problem clearly shows a lack of concern and urgency from those responsible in Council. Residents feel frustrated and neglected, as it seems their concerns are not being taken seriously. We expect better service delivery and accountability from both the Council and our Councillor. Unfortunately, this incident reflects poorly on their performance and many residents believe that more needs to be done to ensure that such situations are handled quickly and efficiently in the future.”
Sally Naidoo, also of Aletta Street, told the Laudium Sun, “It is deeply disappointing to witness the lack of urgency shown by our Councillor and the local Council when it comes to issues affecting our community. The sewage spill on our street had been reported well in advance, yet no immediate or urgent action was taken. Instead, residents have to endure all these days, before the Council eventually or rather, hopefully, carries out any repairs to open the blocked manhole drain. Meanwhile during this period, the conditions have became extremely unpleasant and difficult to tolerate. The overpowering stench from the overflowing sewer has spread throughout the neighbourhood, affecting homes and making it almost impossible for residents to go about their daily routines comfortably. In addition, contaminated waste is visibly running along the street, creating an unhygienic and unsafe environment for everyone living nearby. Despite notifying the relevant authorities as soon as the problem started, there is a clear delay in their response. The situation has continued to deteriorate while residents wait for assistance, for basic service delivery. Families have been exposed to harmful conditions and unnecessary distress. This situation cannot be treated as a minor fault or a routine maintenance issue. A sewer overflow is a serious public health concern that requires swift and decisive action. The extended delay demonstrates a lack of accountability and insufficient attention to the well-being of residents in this area. Many people in the community feel ignored and undervalued, as their complaints to the Tshwane Council do not appear to receive the attention they deserve. There is a growing sense of frustration among residents who expect basic services to be delivered efficiently and without delay. Incidents like this highlight the need for improved response systems and stronger commitment from those in positions of responsibility. As members of this community, we deserve better. There must be a greater level of care, urgency, and professionalism when dealing with issues that directly impact people’s health and living conditions. It is essential that steps are taken to ensure that such problems are
resolved quickly in future by the Council, so that residents are not subjected to similar hardships again.”
At the time of going to press, the blocked drain was opened.