BOIPATONG, Gauteng — With South Africa’s November local government election day now officially proclaimed and the Voters’ Roll closed, political campaigning has kicked into high gear across the country. In Boipatong, Vanderbijlpark within the Emfuleni Municipality, residents say they will cast their ballots for one thing above all: a livable environment free from the stench of raw sewage and toxic waste that has plagued their neighbourhood for years.
A Community Suffocating in Its Own Streets
For residents of Lovel Park in Boipatong, the crisis is not abstract. A decommissioned landfill site nearby continues to emit noxious fumes, while untreated sewage routinely floods their streets, yards, and even their homes. Community members describe enduring severe sewage leaks and a persistent toxic smell that election-cycle promises have failed to resolve.
One long-time resident told journalists that the environmental hazard contributed to the deaths of both parents and left family members, including children, suffering from chronic shortness of breath. “The community at large is suffocating — not by choice,” the resident said, adding that the stench permeates homes even at night.
Another resident, preparing to cast a first-ever vote, framed the upcoming ballot as more than a civic formality. “I expect some change because we need change in Lovel Park. We have kids here, and the sewage needs to stop because our kids get sick,” she said, describing how smoke and fumes invade households after dark.
“Our Vote Is Not a Trade-Off for Empty Promises”
As campaigning intensifies, several residents expressed frustration that complaints lodged over successive electoral cycles have gone unanswered. One community member invoked President Cyril Ramaphosa’s frequent references to human dignity, contrasting the rhetoric with what they called “incredible indignity” experienced at grassroots level.
“My vote is a demand for basic dignity,” the resident stated. “Our vote is not a trade-off for empty election promises.”
For many in Lovel Park, the sewage spillage has become symbolic of broken service delivery — a daily reminder, residents say, that a clean environment and personal dignity remain privileges rather than guaranteed rights.
Minister Urges Voters to Scrutinise Candidate Lists
The national minister responsible for local government and municipalities, which includes Emfuleni, used the start of the campaign period to issue a direct appeal to both political parties and the electorate.
“If you love the people of South Africa, deploy competent people,” the minister said, addressing party leadership. Turning to voters, the minister urged citizens to examine candidate lists closely once they are made public immediately after 28 August.
“Scrutinise them. A political party that takes you seriously will deploy competent people. But a political party that doesn’t take you seriously — you will see at a glance the quality they offer,” the minister added, likening the ballot to a menu from which voters must choose carefully.
What Comes Next
With candidate lists set for publication shortly after 28 August and polling day in November, Boipatong residents say they will be watching whether manifestos translate into functioning sewerage infrastructure, proper landfill rehabilitation, and clean air for their children.
Until then, the raw sewage keeps flowing through Lovel Park’s streets — and the residents keep waiting for the change they intend to demand at the ballot box.
