Frustrated residents of Motlhabeng Village in Mahikeng, North West, are preparing to lodge a formal complaint with the Human Rights Commission, citing an ongoing violation of their rights due to persistent sewer spillages that have plagued the area since 2023.
The problem, which has persisted despite the involvement of service providers, has left approximately 14 homes frequently flooded with raw sewage. Residents describe an unbearable living situation marked by a constant “terrible stench” that they say prevents children from eating or sleeping properly.
The health impact on the community is becoming increasingly severe. A 50-year-old resident revealed that she was diagnosed with asthma last year, a condition she directly attributes to the spillages.
“When I got to the doctor, he told me that my lungs are infected and will be treated. But possibilities are that they will be like that forever,” she stated. She expressed her intention to seek compensation through the Human Rights Commission, citing significant financial strain from ongoing medical costs. “I have to seek medical help and I do not have money,” she said.
Community anger is also directed at local authorities, whom residents accuse of deliberate delays in resolving the issue. One resident voiced the collective sentiment, stating, “The main issue here is that our authorities know what caused this. They are delaying deliberately… where they live it is not like this.” The situation has become so dire that some families are making plans to send their children away to live elsewhere once school exams are completed.
In response to the crisis, a spokesperson from the local mayor’s office confirmed that the disaster management team has been deployed to assess the impact on health and other related matters. The spokesperson emphasized that the administration is following due process, stating, “Once I received that report and I said to them they must submit this report to me by Sunday… I want to table this report before council on Monday.”
However, a permanent solution carries a significant price tag. The mayor’s office has indicated that fixing the sewer spillage in Motlhabeng Village will require approximately 15 million rand. For now, residents, with their health deteriorating and patience exhausted, are placing their hopes on the Human Rights Commission to intervene and secure the relief they desperately need.
