Constant sewerage overspills in Montrose Park and surrounding areas have been caused by the ‘deliberate sabotage’ of infrastructure along the Swartklip Road sewer pipeline, authorities have concluded.
As reported by TygerBurger via News24, the City of Cape Town’s water and sanitation directorate has been continuously working to clear blockages in the area. Because of the nature of the repeated blockages, there have been suspicions of vandalism.
Also read: Swartklip Road sewer pipeline faces continuous overflows
Since 2022, Ward 76 councillor Avron Plaatjies has been advocating for solutions to address persistent blockages in the sewer system. As part of these efforts, lockable covers were installed on critical manholes to deter interference.
Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayco member for water and waste, also mentioned attempts to mitigate blockages by raising manholes and installing lockable covers. However, vandals have resorted to damaging the concrete covers in order to gain access to the system.
Plaatjies emphasised the deliberate nature of these actions, noting that items found in the sewers could not have entered through normal usage.
‘Based on the kinds of objects found, there is no way that by normal usage those items can end up in the sewers,’ said Plaatjies.
‘It is deliberate, throwing those items in there. It was so bad that teams needed to get into the manhole on a ladder to lift up a rock. There is no way that comes through the flushing system.’
Residents of Montclair, Montrose Park and ‘up to Tafelsig’ are also affected, as the City would have to flush and clear blockages of homes as a result of the system pressure.
Besides being a health hazard, residents would be unable to to flush their toilets or deal with the overspills in their own home.
Also read:
Father of four tragically killed by falling tree in Western Cape storm
Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook
