Sewerage plans in place

Piet Liebenberg
THE Kouga Municipality says they are geared-up to manage the expected increase in sewage volumes this festive season.
Communications officer for the municipality, Mfundo Sobele, says seven of their 11 trucks went in for repairs prior to the holiday season so that they could be in good working condition when the influx of visitors was expected.
In the past, residents with properties where the municipality still collects sewage, complained about the tardiness of the municipality to empty the tanks.
Barry Botha, who lives in Beefwood Street, says sewage frequently overflows on his property as the tank becomes full.

“I have to phone the sewerage department when my tank is nearly full but they normally only come some two weeks later. At that stage water frequently flows back into the shower.”

He had to phone the municipality no less than eleven times in October, begging them to empty the tank. They always promise to come, he says, but then they don’t pitch up.

Ward 8 councillor Dave Aldendorff says the municipality informed him that mayor, Booi Koerat, gave instructions to not use third-party contractors to assist the municipality.

“The festive season is upon us. How are people going to cope?” asks Aldendorf.
Sobele says two of the trucks were already back while the rest should be ready by peak time.
However, he claims the mayor has given the go-ahead to hire two extra trucks, which they have done.
“That puts our number to eight, three short of the normal number of our running trucks.
“We work on flexibility to try and reach all areas as quickly as we can with the temporarily streamlined resources.”