The major sewage spill at the Ifafi shore has stopped but the Madibeng Municipality keeps mum about cleanup operations and rehabilitation work that needs to be done on the site.
It was discovered a few months ago that years of continuous raw sewage spillage on the shore into the Hartbeespoort Dam had caused a compacted sewage bank of approximately four to six metres deep stretching over 100 metres.
A contractor was appointed to repair a sewage pipe and two additional manholes were constructed. However, an electrical fault at the Venice pump station caused the two manholes to spout fountains of raw sewage into the wetland and Hartbeespoort Dam for two weeks.
According to ward councillor Graeme Peplar, the spillage had been stopped. “Madibeng said a contractor was appointed to clean up the area and would be on terrain this week.” Madibeng spokesperson Tumelo Tshabalala said the municipality will definitely rehabilitate the area and is currently “sourcing a combination truck.”