Cape Town - A sewage spill in Kuils River has stopped a sporting business from operating, with the City of Cape Town accused of showing no inclination to fix it.
The owner of the Protea Indoor Sports Arena, Vicky Petersen, said he is at his wits’ end after he had to stop operating due to a recurring sewage spill that has seeped into his property.
Over the weekend, the sporting facility, which is usually buzzing with coaching and cricket activities for youngsters, parents and clubs, had to cancel all its scheduled games and activities, including the Western Province indoor cricket training for juniors, as a result of the stench and green sewage water flowing onto its property.
Petersen has been operating the Protea Indoor Sports Arena since 2008 and runs the cricket ball manufacturing plant nearby. He said this was the fourth time they had to deal with the issue and that after numerous complaints, the City still refused to act.
On Monday, Petersen said he had a visit from the health inspector and she explained that the sewage system was not upgraded to carry the increased capacity brought on by the development of Zevenwacht mall and the new Pick n Pay mall, which have both tapped into the same overburdened sewage system.
He said the City had cleared parts of the previous sewage spills but the sewer water always returned a few days later. Petersen has often had to close and personally clean green residue and sewer water from the building property. Some employees have even fallen sick.
The owner has gone above and beyond trying to get this sewer problem resolved and exhausted the City’s avenues of communication for assistance but he said there was still no solution to the recurring sewer problem affecting his business operations.
“I am frustrated, I am hurt and I was very emotional on Sunday night after a remark was made by one of the patrons leaving. He said, ‘typical coloured businesses’. This is out of my control, I am losing business and it’s not right,” a tearful Petersen told the Cape Argus yesterday.
He was not alone in his frustration. Other businesses have also been negatively affected by the stench and sewage that runs down Compagne Street.
Jaco Joubert, general manager of the neighbouring business AJ Oils in Kuils River, which sells sunflower oil and palm oil, said that this was the umpteenth time the stinking sewage had flowed in front of their building.
“It stinks and I don’t think it’s very good for our health,” Joubert said.
A recurring stinking sewage spill in Kuils River has stopped a sporting business, usually buzzing with coaching and cricket activities, from operating. Vicky Petersen, owner of Protea Indoor Sports Arena, is at his wits’ end and is fed up with the City's inaction @TheCapeArgus pic.twitter.com/TlexKMAw4Q
— Kristin Engel (@_kuristina) November 15, 2022
Water and Sanitation acting mayoral committee (Mayco) member Siseko Mbandezi said: “The City Water and Sanitation Department is investigating the matter, therefore I cannot respond to your questions until the investigation is done.”
In April, the Cape Argus reported Kuils River residents appealed for answers after their cries related to the ongoing pollution and grand negligence that was believed to be originating from the Cape Town Iron and Steel Works (Cisco) site.
kristin.engel@inl.co.za