Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr JP de Villiers and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Joseph Mbele.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will conduct a formal oversight intervention and submit written questions to the Ngwathe Local Municipality to urgently address the ongoing sanitation crisis in Edenville, following serious concerns raised by residents.
The DA has been alerted to the community’s growing frustration with the municipality’s ongoing neglect. Residents have reported that toilets frequently overflow with human waste, particularly during rainy periods when water enters the system, causing sewage to spill into their yards. This not only creates an unbearable living environment but also increases the risk of disease and environmental contamination.
Community members have further indicated that municipal workers take a long time to respond to sanitation issues and, in many cases, attend only when residents personally request assistance. There are also serious allegations that access to services is inconsistent and may be influenced by political affiliation or personal familiarity with municipal workers, raising concerns about fairness and accountability.
I conducted an oversight inspection of the sanitation infrastructure in the Ngwathe area, and the findings are entirely unacceptable. It is evident that the original toilet structures were poorly planned and are not suitable as a long-term solution. The toilets, although brick-built, are not connected to a functional flushing system, contributing directly to ongoing sanitation failures.
The municipality must account for these failures and clarify whether the current sanitation infrastructure was ever intended to be a permanent solution. If not, the municipality must urgently present a clear and actionable plan to provide residents with proper, dignified sanitation services.
Residents are forced to live with the constant stench of overflowing toilets, creating unhealthy and unsafe living conditions. This situation poses a direct threat to public health and undermines the community’s dignity.
The DA calls for this matter to be addressed with urgency, as residents’ lives and well-being remain at risk. We will continue to stand as a voice for the community, ensuring that residents are prioritised and that the municipality is held accountable.