Residents in Molteno say a sewage spill near a local dam returned within days of being cleared, raising fresh concerns about recurring wastewater overflows in the area.
The latest complaints follow an earlier report by Komani News on wastewater flowing near the dam and concerns about possible environmental and health impacts.
According to a resident, municipal teams attended to the spill after the matter was reported. However, the resident claims the overflow resurfaced shortly afterwards.
“It looks like they’re just sucking whatever is there out, and then it fills up and overflows again,” the resident told Komani News.
The resident also questioned whether the underlying cause of the problem has been addressed, arguing that repeated overflows suggest a more permanent solution may be needed.
Chris Hani District Municipality has confirmed that the spill resurfaced after the initial intervention.
Municipal spokesperson Nangamso Ngceke said municipal teams cleared the overflow again after it returned over the weekend and that the area is being closely monitored.
“CHDM team continuously monitors sewer blockages in the area. The spillage was cleared again after it resurfaced over the weekend, and the area is now being closely monitored,” Ngceke said.
The municipality said poor waste disposal practices place additional pressure on aging sewer infrastructure and noted that a programme to replace old pipelines has already commenced in parts of Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality where infrastructure strain has been identified.
While residents remain concerned about possible downstream environmental impacts, the municipality maintains that the affected area is not Molteno’s source of drinking water.
According to Ngceke, Paradise Dam remains the primary source of potable water for the town and is subject to ongoing water quality monitoring and testing.
For residents, however, the key concern remains that the spill returned shortly after being cleared, raising questions about whether the recurring problem has been permanently resolved.
