The mayor blames the syndicate for Seweding the sewer collapse

he mayor of the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, Khumalo Molefe, said a collapsed bulk sewer line in Seweding was the target of a “well-coordinated” sabotage syndicate, as residents continue to endure raw sewage spills and heavy stench.

 Speaking at a media briefing on Friday, the mayor said the latest spillage was reported on November 18, 2025, after a blocked manhole overflowed.

 Residents of Seweding village have endured months of raw sewage spills, choking stench and mounting health fears as a 50-year-old asbestos pipeline continues to fail.

 The cash-strapped municipality admitted it needs at least R29 million for full rehabilitation as a temporary measure.

 Molefe said while initial assessments pointed to vandalism, municipal teams attempted to clear the blockage and instituted temporary containment measures, including continuous pumping and sanitation control using disinfectants.

 He said a subsequent technical assessment linked the blockage to the collapse of the Seweding bulk sewer line, a failure that dates back to August 25 last year, when a major sewer pipe caved in along Bray Road.

The collapse, the mayor said, posed “a serious health and environmental hazard” and prompted emergency response measures in line with legislative prescripts.

He said before, the municipality spent no less than R16 million to repair what it described as a “natural cause” failure nine months ago. But argue that the current crisis is different.

“Where we are currently, it’s not a natural cause. It’s a deliberate act of sabotage,” the mayor said, alleging that individuals opened manholes and threw rocks into the pipeline, triggering blockages that led to further structural collapse.

“Criminal cases have been opened, and construction equipment on site has allegedly been switched off by community members demanding employment,” he said.

Molefe said more than 100 cases of infrastructure-related vandalism have been registered with the South African Police Service (SAPS), though none have resulted in arrests or convictions.

At the centre of the crisis is an asbestos cement pipe more than five decades old.  He warned that patchwork repairs were no longer viable.

“It does not matter how often we repair it; when you fix point A, point B is likely to break,” the mayor said.

He said in the interim, a service provider has been appointed to implement remedial measures, including installing a temporary manhole bypass system to stabilise wastewater flow and contain uncontrolled discharge.

 For a permanent solution, the municipality needs R110 million to replace about 10 kilometres of the ageing pipeline. A contractor has already been introduced for the replacement project, but funding remains a constraint.

The district expects financial support from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. The mayor said a service provider for full rehabilitation would be appointed next week once funding is confirmed.

Residents in Ramosadi and Seweding have reported persistent odours, fears of water contamination and concerns about children playing near contaminated areas.

He apologised to affected residents and urged the community to work with police to stop vandalism.