A call has been for Sol Plaatje Municipality to give urgent attention to the growing sewage crisis along the N12 on the southern side of Kimberley.
A CALL has been for Sol Plaatje Municipality to give urgent attention to the growing sewage crisis along the N12 on the southern side of Kimberley.
According to DA councillor Peet Louw, leaks from overflowing manholes are causing sewage to block stormwater channels and creating pools of sewage water along the pavement, which is severely impacting a number of homes and businesses.
Lenmed hospital, the North Cape Mall and homes on McClintock Street in Monument Heights are a few of the worst-affected sites.
Sewage seepage into the basement of at least one business is another issue.
The suburbs of New Park, Roylize garden complex, Royldene, Monument Heights and Minerva Gardens are all impacted by the sewage problems along this section of the N12. They range from spills along one pipeline brought on by the city’s bulk sewerage infrastructure’s inability to keep up with growth, to another sewage issue farther along the N12 in the vicinity of Minerva Gardens, brought on by an as yet unidentified source.
“Along with my ward committee, I have put forth a lot of effort to get our request for an impact study along the N12 included in the Integrated Development Plan (IDP). Although the municipality first omitted this from the IDP, the DA has subsequently been successful in including it, albeit with a low priority,” said Louw.
He added that while the impact assessment is necessary for the creation of long-term, sustainable solutions, short-term support is also needed.
“The DA has repeatedly asked Sol Plaatje for immediate assistance in addressing the obvious effects of the overflowing sewage, but Sol Plaatje keeps putting it off. I have since visited with the municipal manager to ask him to call a meeting with directors and all N12 stakeholders to discuss and come up with a solution to this mounting situation. I won’t stop until the issue is resolved,” said Louw.
“In order to serve the needs of everyone who works, commutes, or resides along the N12 and the N12 route, I’m hoping that this meeting will take place soon. I’ll do everything I can to hold Sol Plaatje responsible for this as well.”
