Life has become a living hell for workers of Do Light Transport, situated in Louis Trichardt's industrial area, who have been forced for almost three months now to watch their step as a stinky sludge of toxic sewage seeps out of a manhole and into the yard. The sewage flows into their rooms and office at the depot, while the municipality seemingly does nothing about the situation.
This persistent sewage spill started in November last year. Mr Steven Livhalani, one of the workers of Do Light Transport who stays in a room at the depot in Unika Street, said that the stench coming from the sewage was making them all sick. The foul water, which had grown into a dam on the depot's yard, is apparently even seeping into the walls of the buildings. When it rains, Livhalani said, things become even worse.
When Limpopo Mirror visited the depot on Monday, 16 January, sewage was flowing all over the yard and workers could only get out of their rooms by stepping on pallets that they had laid out to avoid walking through the foul sludge.
The workers blame the municipality for failing them. "When it first started, we reported it immediately, but the municipality never showed up to fix it. The smelly dam poses a health hazard for workers. We have already caught some kind of a flu from this mess here, and we are concerned about contracting serious diseases, including cholera. This is unacceptable and very frustrating. It's even difficult to open my mouth to talk about this, due to the smell," Livhalani said.
Vhembe District Municipality's spokesperson, Mr Matodzi Ralushai, promised to make an enquiry regarding the situation to the relevant technician's department and said that the problem would be addressed very soon.