GOOD Statement by Siyabulela Mamkeli,
GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
7 September 2024
The residents of Wesbank have been subjected to appalling living conditions, exacerbated by the persistent flow of raw sewage in their streets. This crisis did not arise overnight; it has been festering for years, further highlighting the neglect of the community by Democratic Alliance Ward Councillor Ebrahim Serwant.
Over the past five years, I have personally logged numerous service requests for blocked and overflowing sewers in Wesbank, a clear indication of the community’s failing infrastructure. As a public representative for GOOD in Wesbank, I have borne witness to the frustration and anger of residents who feel that our efforts to address the issue are merely performative, with no real, lasting solutions being implemented. The community is tired of seeing only pictures on social media, with no meaningful interventions to relieve them from the daily ordeal of navigating raw sewage in their streets.
I urge DA Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis to direct the MMC for Water and Sanitation to launch a thorough investigation into the state of the sewer pipelines, which have evidently collapsed. The City must resist the inclination to place the blame solely on the shoulders of this already overburdened community. Immediate resources should be allocated to provide temporary relief, as the health of already vulnerable residents is deteriorating due to this hazardous situation.
The City of Cape Town is failing in its constitutional duty to ensure a livable and dignified environment for the people of Wesbank in Ward 19.
Media Enquiries:
Janke Tolmay, GOOD Media Manager
Cell: 073 367 1223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za
Siyabulela Mamkeli, GOOD: City of Cape Town Councillor
Cell: 0781591251
Email: siya.mamkeli@gmail.com