Sewage spill leaves Boitekong residents with health concerns

Some residents in the Boitekong township of Rustenburg have raised health concerns following a sewage spill which has been flowing outside their homes since December last year.

Residents say their complaints to the municipality, which is run by an ANC-led coalition, have fallen on deaf ears.

The African National Congress is in the area to mark the January 8 celebrations this week.

For Modiri Motimo, leaving his home in Boitekong Extension Eight means having to carefully jump over the large, green puddle of sewage that has settled in front of his yard.

“This situation has really negatively affected us. We don’t have fresh air. Our children cannot play outside freely. We didn’t get to enjoy our December.”

Another resident, John Mashaba, says he has reported the sewage spill to no avail.

“The children are really struggling because when it’s raining, it becomes a problem for them to get to school. They miss out on school and fail,” Mashaba said.

Like most parts of the northwest, Boitekong overwhelmingly votes ANC, with all three of its wards represented by an ANC councillor.

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