Mabuza ‘sorry’ for slow clean-up of Vaal River
Deputy President David Mabuza has apologised to the resident of Emfuleni for the ongoing sewerage crisis in the area.
The old infrastructure in the municipality has caused a sewage spillage into the Vaal River.
Last month the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) released a report that stated the river is “polluted beyond acceptable standards”.
In 2019 Mabuza announced in Parliament that R1.1 billion is required from Treasury to deal with pollution in the river.
On Tuesday afternoon the deputy president apologised for the delay in fixing the sewage crisis.
"Remember that the president [Cyril Ramaphosa] sent the soldiers here, we are almost a third year, to our people our apologies.
"But we have made tremendous process since then because this construction has been completed and added to our capacity to deal with the sewage," said Mabuza.
Mabuza said the next step for government is to unblock the sewage pipes in the area.
The SAHRC's report revealed that out of the 44 sewerage pumps situated in the municipality, only 11 were operational.
The deputy president told the media that government aims to “move fast” in unblocking the sewage system in the municipality.
Mabuza conducted an oversight visit to Sebokeng sewage plant on Tuesday afternoon.
He was accompanied by Gauteng Premier David Makhura, the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Lindiwe Sisulu, and Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Urban Planning and Cooperative Governance Lebogang Maile.
