Cape Independence Party (CAPEXIT) Councillor Karl Bodin outside Table View police station where registered a criminal case against the City of Cape Town. PICTURE: BHEKI RADEBE
Image: BHEKI RADEBE
Cape Independence Party (CAPEXIT) councillor Karl Bodin has registered a criminal case at SAPS Table View against the City of Cape Town after homes in Flamingo Vlei were flooded by sewage earlier this month.
“The City of Cape Town has ignored calls for a plan of action to prevent recurrence of sewage flooding the streets and homes of Flamingo Vlei residents," said Mr Bodin.
"On the weekend of 4 to 6 April, the normally quiet neighbourhood of Sprigg and Hof roads in Flamingo Vlei was the scene of a sewage disaster. The incident led to residents being evacuated due to health safety concerns, following the failure of City officials to curb the flow of raw sewage into homes.”
The charges against the City are for contraventions of Sec 49A (1) (e) and (f) of the National Environmental Management Act, Act 107 of 1998.
Mr Bodin said he visited the area on Tuesday April 8. “It’s terrible that residents have been exposed to this traumatic experience. The roadway was still covered (in sewage). From meeting with affected residents, I hear that their properties and homes were flooded. Families had to be evacuated and I want to thank the City’s emergency services for doing a sterling job. However, not enough was done to assist residents”.
He said one of the residents he spoke to said he had asked for sand bags to be delivered timeously, and they never arrived. Instead empty bags had been dumped on the other side of the already flooded roadway.
Mr Bodin said residents told him that seeing sewage flooding their streets has been an almost monthly occurrence for nearly two decades.
Mr Bodin said he has asked the City for a plan of action to prevent a recurrence of the flooding but nothing has transpired.
“This is unacceptable that residents have been living under these conditions for all these years and the City still hasn’t resolved the obvious shortcomings with the pump station. This is not only an environmental disaster, but could severely impact the health of these residents. How is it possible that this pump station is without a back-up power generator? Whenever the electricity fails, the pump station fails and the sewage overflows into the streets. I have photographic evidence dating back to 2009, showing the roadway and properties flooded with sewage. When will this end?" asked Mr Bodin.
Siseko Mbandezi, the acting Mayoral committee member for water and sanitation, responded to the charges being laid.
“The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate notes the intention to lay charges with SAPS. It is to be noted that this was a mechanical failure of a pump at the Table View East Pump Station. This follows the removal of another pump for proactive maintenance. Unfortunately, the malfunction of the remaining pump resulted in a sewer overflow at the lowest section of the sewer network."
He said the City’s response had been immediate. Mobile pumps were activated to lower the sewer levels in the pump station and up to 10 suction tankers attempting to keep the overflow levels in the streets as low as possible. There was no known overflow into any storm water system nor the environment.
“The ward councillor is to be commended for her active presence and engagement with the community throughout the difficult incident. Councillor Bodin’s attention-seeking media stunt is an insult to the hard-working officials who worked around the clock to repair the mechanical failure. It must be noted that material for the filling of sandbags were made available for residents to make use of should they have wanted to do so. Additionally, the City ensured that the necessary hosing and disinfection was conducted on all hard surfaces in order to leave the properties in an acceptable condition.”
He said the Table View East pump station is on a high-priority list for upgrades. Planning for the Table View East Bulk Sewer and pump station is still in the early stages but is expected to cost an estimated R75 million over three financial years.
This is in addition to the other multi-million rand upgrades to the R470 million Montague Bulk Sewer Network as well as the R5.4 billion upgrade to the Potsdam Wastewater Treatment Works.
The City apologised for the inconvenience caused. "We know that this overflow has impacted each resident personally. With regard to the damage to the property, the ward councillor will assist any resident who requires assistance to submit a public liability claim for any damage to their property."