Toxic sewage crisis

KNYSNA NEWS - Concordia residents are complaining of raw sewage that runs between their houses to the lagoon.

One of the complainants, Zama Vavi, said it has been a problem for a long time and the municipality is "ignoring" it.

Residents feel that it is no longer just sewage spillage, but a human rights issue.

Vavi said he had approached everyone at the municipality, but to no avail.

"I met with the municipal manager and he didn't act. On 16 April the mayor went there and nothing was done. He was the ward councillor for this ward before he became mayor, so he definitely knows about the situation.

"Every day when I go to work and also take my one-year-old child to school, we cross there.

"Animals like pigs, cows and chickens are helping themselves there. We have to always be on the lookout for our children not to play there."

The municipal workers allegedly say that it is impossible for their sewage sucker truck to reach the manhole, as their access is blocked by a house.

For the manhole to be fixed, the truck has to be able to reach it.

According to residents, however, in 2023 the sewage sucker truck used to go past the house that is now said to be blocking access.

According to Vavi, the house in question is a temporary housing unit (TRU) that the municipality itself built there. He said the municipality should have realised the trucks have to pass there to get to the manhole.

A bog of sewage water from one of the overflowing manholes in Concordia.

Residents say it seems as if there is no permanent solution to the problem. The municipality has on occasion come to fix it, but it would start overflowing again immediately.

Diagnostic and support plan
Knysna Municipality communications officer Nwabisa Pondoyi said the council has adopted a Section 154 diagnostic and support plan, which is aimed at addressing a range of service delivery challenges, including issues related to sewerage.

"In alignment with this plan, a meeting between Knysna Municipality and both provincial and national government officials was held on 25 April to specifically address the water and sewer-related directives.