A say care centre in a Gonubie township said raw sewage has been flowing onto the property, sparking health fears.
The Simunye Day Care Centre in Mzamomhle, which caters for 60 children between the ages of two and five and is run by Cotlands, is not only situated next to an illegal dumpsite, but a leaking sewer has also been causing a bad stench.
Staff said the problem had been reported to the city, but nothing has been done over the past two years.
The Dispatch visited the centre yesterday and saw sewage running freely onto the day care centre’s property, while eight pigs fed at the nearby dumpsite.
Teacher Nombuso Nhyikilana, pointing at the sewage, said: “When it is spilling like this we don’t allow children to play outside as we fear for their health.”
She said the dumpsite, which is a few metres from where the kids play, has made them sick.
Nhyikilana said the matter had been reported to Buffalo City Metro on many occasions.
“To be honest, municipal officials sometimes come and fix the sewer when we complain but it always breaks the following day,” she said.
The Simunye Day Care Centre in Mzamomhle, which caters for 60 children between the ages of two and five and is run by Cotlands, is not only situated next to an illegal dumpsite, but a leaking sewer has also been causing a bad stench.
Staff said the problem had been reported to the city, but nothing has been done over the past two years.
The Dispatch visited the centre yesterday and saw sewage running freely onto the day care centre’s property, while eight pigs fed at the nearby dumpsite.
Teacher Nombuso Nhyikilana, pointing at the sewage, said: “When it is spilling like this we don’t allow children to play outside as we fear for their health.”
She said the dumpsite, which is a few metres from where the kids play, has made them sick.
Nhyikilana said the matter had been reported to Buffalo City Metro on many occasions.
“To be honest, municipal officials sometimes come and fix the sewer when we complain but it always breaks the following day,” she said.
“When it rains, sewage goes inside the classrooms.”
DA councillor Lance Weyer said he had first lodged a complaint with the city in July.
“Recently the NGO had to pay a private contractor to clean up raw sewage in the centre.”
He said his main concern was the safety and wellbeing of the toddlers, who sometimes ran around without shoes.
“Seeing that officials in the community services department were ignoring my complaints, I took the matter up with the (acting) municipal manager,” Weyer said.
In e-mail correspondence between Weyer and acting municipal manager Andile Fani last month, seen by the Dispatch, Fani acknowledged the complaint.
Fani wrote: “Morning CLLR (councillor), my apologies for the behaviour of the officials and I will investigate as to why this was not attended.”
Contacted for comment, Fani referred all media queries to the communications office. Metro spokesman Samkelo Ngwenya said he would “engage with the relevant office”.
By Daily Dispatch reporter: evansm@dispatch.co.za
DA councillor Lance Weyer said he had first lodged a complaint with the city in July.
“Recently the NGO had to pay a private contractor to clean up raw sewage in the centre.”
He said his main concern was the safety and wellbeing of the toddlers, who sometimes ran around without shoes.
“Seeing that officials in the community services department were ignoring my complaints, I took the matter up with the (acting) municipal manager,” Weyer said.
In e-mail correspondence between Weyer and acting municipal manager Andile Fani last month, seen by the Dispatch, Fani acknowledged the complaint.
Fani wrote: “Morning CLLR (councillor), my apologies for the behaviour of the officials and I will investigate as to why this was not attended.”
Contacted for comment, Fani referred all media queries to the communications office. Metro spokesman Samkelo Ngwenya said he would “engage with the relevant office”.
By Daily Dispatch reporter: evansm@dispatch.co.za
Link to online article at the Daily Dispatch
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