Pensioners do work Emfuleni municipality ignores

Frustrated by years of inaction, a group of men, most of them pensioners, have taken it upon themselves to fix sewer spillages in their communities in the Emfuleni local municipality in Vanderbijlpark, on the Vaal. It was the stench of raw sewage hanging in the air during the hot summer days in December that finally pushed them into action. Pensioner Philemon Ndabezitha from Sebokeng Zone 7 said the smell was unbearable.

“In December, when it rained, the sewer mixed with rainwater flowed everywhere. When the sun came out the next morning, the heat brought a heavy stench, and you were forced to wear a mask just to walk around,” the 61-year-old man said. The men said they have been dealing with sewer spillages for over three years.

Some of them are former construction workers, while others have worked for electricity companies. “Before we start with the work, we first do a safety check. When we see there are cables underground, we don’t mess with them.

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We first assess what we are dealing with,” Ndabezitha said. As early as 7am on Wednesday, a group of men had rolled up their sleeves and began working the ground to address a sewer overflow. Using shovels, they dug into the soil to create space for a pipe intended to improve the flow of sewage.

The men continued working under the scorching sun, with some digging while others positioned the pipe and applied concrete to secure it in place. One man was seen mixing cement to seal the opening. A visible pool of sewage lay nearby, overflowing from a neighbouring home and spreading across the ground as the work continued.

The group remained on site until around 1pm, waiting for the cement to set. The sewer situation in Emfuleni has deteriorated to the point where collapsed sewer lines have threatened the operations of local businesses. Several business owners said they have been negatively affected by ongoing sewage spills, blocked drains and toilets that cannot be used by customers.

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