Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Anelia Smit and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL. See attached pictures here, here, here, and here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Nketoana will escalate the crisis at the Reitz sewage works to the Free State Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and the Department of Water and Sanitation. The DA will also table formal questions in council and request an immediate intervention plan from the Nketoana Municipality to restore this essential service.
The sewage works in Reitz have been completely non-functional for an extended period. All pumps and electrical equipment have been stolen and remain unreplaced, despite repeated pressure on the municipality to restore this essential service.
At present, no water purification activities are taking place at the sewage works. Despite this, Nketoana still employs two workers who are supposedly there to provide security, yet they could not explain what exactly they are protecting.
They merely report for duty daily, an unnecessary expense for taxpayers.
Meanwhile, raw sewage flows directly into the river, posing a serious health risk to the community. The Reitz Golf Club borders the sewage works, and the contaminated water flows through the stream running through the club. This creates an unbearable stench and exposes both the public and nearby farmers downstream to severe health hazards.
The polluted water prevents farmers from allowing their livestock to drink safely, rendering large portions of farmland unusable for livestock farming and has already resulted in animal deaths.
The DA has previously raised this issue during council meetings, and the Municipal Manager is fully aware of the situation. No action has been taken to resolve the matter.
We will not rest until a sustainable solution is found to this crisis.