In the Boipatong community, the Phuthulla Primary School has been facing a challenging situation for the past eight years, as sewage from broken pipes seeps into the school grounds during rainy weather. Disturbing images vividly depict the severity of the issue: waterlogged areas surrounding classroom buildings and play spaces have transformed into hazardous environments, posing serious health risks.
An unnamed school official disclosed that students frequently experience skin and stomach ailments, with incidents escalating to the extent that all students were sent home at the end of the previous year, prompting many parents to withdraw their children from the school.
Over the years, reports have surfaced concerning elevated levels of air pollution attributed to industrial activities such as steel production, coal mining, commercial enterprises, and agricultural operations in the Emfuleni local municipality. The prevalence of asthma in townships within the municipality, including Evaton, Sebokeng, Sharpeville, Boipatong, Bophelong, and Tshepiso, has been extensively documented. Additionally, waterborne diseases present a further health hazard due to recurrent water source contamination in the region.
Studies conducted by Jabulile Sindane in 2022 revealed instances of children developing rashes and diarrhea from exposure to untreated sewage while playing in the streets, a finding corroborated by a scientific publication in 2023. This underscores the adverse impact of infrastructural deficiencies on residents and local businesses.
Contaminated sewage contains bacteria like E. coli and salmonella, known to cause diarrhea and stomach cramps, particularly endangering children and the elderly who are vulnerable to dehydration and related complications. Concurrently, residents have reported a surge in respiratory illnesses, including asthma, attributed to air pollution, a concern raised during a visit by Good Governance Africa to Phuthulla Primary School.
Exposure to water pollution, whether through consumption, bathing, or cooking, can result in severe health conditions stemming from the ingestion of harmful substances like heavy metals, chemicals, and bacteria. These can lead to ailments ranging from cancer and neurological disorders to reproductive issues and developmental anomalies.
Addressing air and water pollution in Emfuleni is a critical necessity. Despite a court order last July requiring government intervention to curb water pollution in the Vaal River and its tributaries, minimal progress has been achieved. Emfuleni’s poor ranking in the Governance Performance Index 2024 indicates a lack of improvement, with the municipality placed last among Gauteng’s six municipalities and 17th out of 19 secondary cities nationwide.
Recently, nine ward councilors penned a letter to Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi decrying the dysfunction in household waste collection, leaving some neighborhoods untouched for over eight weeks due to a shortage of waste collection services, despite the provision of nine new compactors to the municipality.
Urgent action by local and national authorities is imperative to rectify the dire situation affecting residents’ quality of life in Emfuleni. Efforts to mitigate air and water pollution must be prioritized to safeguard the well-being of individuals in the region.
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