KLERKSDORP, North West — Residents in Klerksdorp are enduring a devastating sewage spillage crisis, with raw sewage continuously overflowing into streets and private yards in the Alabama Extension 5 community of Flagtop. For years, locals have battled what they describe as a severe health hazard and a stark reflection of ongoing municipal service delivery failures.
Despite repeated complaints and previous appeals to local authorities, little has changed on the ground. Community members report that the persistent spillages have made daily life unbearable, forcing families to seek alternative living arrangements to protect their health.
Kgomotso Tshabalala, a resident of Alabama Extension 5, stated that the community has been living with the sewer problem for the past seven years. He described raw sewage running all over the streets and backing up into houses. The health risks became so severe that Tshabalala had to send his children to live with their grandmother earlier this year.
“My younger child was starting to cough repeatedly, and I had a fear that it might be tuberculosis (TB) or another illness caused by the sewer exposure,” Tshabalala explained.
According to residents, municipal responses have been inconsistent and ultimately ineffective. When maintenance crews do arrive, they reportedly only address the immediate blockage at one house, which merely diverts the sewage flow to another street. Tshabalala noted that authorities once admitted the original plumbing infrastructure was installed with incorrect pipes, dooming the area to recurring failures.
While municipal workers initially responded to phone calls and promised interventions, residents say those promises have evaporated. “Now, when we call them, they answer and promise to come, but they do not. Once you call them again, they ignore your calls,” Tshabalala added.
The frustration is echoed by other community members who have had no luck securing a lasting response from local government. Bokamoso Makolosa, another resident of Alabama Extension 5, highlighted the severe impact on basic daily activities and community life.
“We can’t use the water because it can be contaminated, and we can’t use our yards,” Makolosa said, noting that even a family funeral held on the property last week was severely impacted by the overflowing sewage.
Makolosa confirmed that the issue was formally reported to the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) of Alabama, yet no tangible help has been received since the current severe phase of the spillage began in January.
As the Klerksdorp sewage spillage crisis continues unabated, residents remain caught in a cycle of broken promises and deteriorating living conditions, pleading for immediate, comprehensive infrastructure repairs to restore basic sanitation and dignity to their community.
