Durban - Damage to the Athlone Park sewage pump station has led to a sewage overflow at the Amanzimtoti Country Club.
Pieter Carstens, former committee member of the Amanzimtoti Country Club and Conservancy, said the problem started after the April floods.
“The heavy rains, together with the Athlone Pump station being vandalised, meant that the sewage pump had to be repaired. However, when the municipality did get it working, it was not functioning properly.
“The sewage overflowed and pushed back into our system and flowed into the stormwater system and on to the golf course. We have also tried to put our measures into place but it hasn’t helped.”
Carstens added the club’s operations were being affected with golfers being unable to make use of the club due to the sewage.
“We were affected by the floods in April. Most of the club was covered in mud,including the golf course and car park. We did the best we could to clean up and get this place going again. However, with the sewage coming on to the course, there isn’t anything we can do. People just can’t come here because of the stench. We are not in a position with funds to stop the sewage from flowing on to the golf course. We just need the municipality to resolve the situation.”
Nessa Bhanprakash, IFP Member of the Provincial Legislature and spokesperson for Conservation and Environmental Affairs, said he would be escalating the matter to the legislature.
“It pains me to see Amanzimtoti Country Club so deserted like this. It is normally such a vibrant place with golfers and beautiful species of birds. The eThekwini authorities must stop playing with people’s lives and take immediate action to repair the Athlone Pump Station.
“They need to stop the hazardous flow of raw sewage into the Isipingo River immediately. People’s health is at risk.”
DA eThekwini caucus leader Thabani Mthethwa said the party would hold a picket soon to raise their concerns about eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda’s handling of the sewage crisis.
“We will lead a picket calling for the eThekwini mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, to resign with immediate effect for his continued failure to address widespread sewage spills witnessed across the city, resulting in the closure of beaches and negatively affecting the city’s tourism sector.”
Zwakele Mncwango, provincial chairperson of ActionSA in KwaZulu-Natal, said the sewage problems across the city needed to be addressed.
The party has filed an application in the Durban High Court to compel the eThekwini Municipality, relevant ministers and authorities to address the sewage crisis.
EThekwini Municipality spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said the city was aware of the condition of the sewage pump station at Athlone Park and work was under way to get it working again.
“Its malfunction is as a result of unceasing vandalism. To date the city has spent a lot of money responding to this scourge. We apologise to the public and golfers for the inconvenience. We appeal to all our stakeholders to join our fight against vandalism.”