The vandalism of the sewage pump station in Roodepan has resulted in local police members having to conduct their services under “stinking” conditions.
THE VANDALISM of the sewage pump station in Roodepan has resulted in local police members having to conduct their services under “stinking” conditions.
This follows several complaints from the employees at Roodpan police station as well as residents in the area, accusing Sol Plaatje Municipality of dragging its feet in attending to sewage blockages.
The employees said they have to conduct their duties under unhygienic and unpleasant conditions as the drain on the premises is blocked.
They added that, at times, they cannot even use the bathrooms on the premises as they are blocked.
“It is so discouraging to work under these circumstances as one finds no joy being engulfed by the stink that fills the air at the police station,” the said.
“It is also so embarrassing and unprofessional as we have to deal with complaints from the public daily. There are so many public members who make use of the services rendered by this police station. We have to constantly apologise to the public about the smell and the state of the premises as there is sewage running in the yard. It is a bad reflection and also unhygienic.
“Members at the station cannot even enjoy their lunch at the office as one cannot eat under the stench. Using the bathrooms is also a problem as the sewage floods the yard the moment someone flushes a toilet. The smell is not only unbearable, but has caused some members of the public as well as police officers to complain of terrible headaches and nausea.
“The municipality truly needs to address the sewage problems of the city with urgency. We cannot have civil servants and the public subjected to such conditions.”
Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thoko Riet said they were aware of the problem, but added that challenges at the pump station have hampered the matter.
“We attended to getting the pump station running as it was vandalised and could not operate. We managed to get one pump running. Due to the non-operation of the other pump, the line was blocked further down. Our team is repairing the remaining pump stations. So far, we have managed to repair three and get them to function and the team is busy with the other three pump stations,” said Riet.
She called on community members not to dispose of foreign objects in the sewerage system as it results in blockages.
“We have retrieved several foreign objects from sewage manholes, including animal hide, blankets and even steel rods. We appeal to the community not to dispose of such items in the drainage systems. It does damage to the drainage and sewage infrastructure, which results in the drainage systems at homes being blocked,” Riet said.
