Lekwa Local Municipality has noted the media statement issued by the Independent Lekwa Party (ILP) and the concerns raised by Councillor Corné Stoltz regarding sewer spillages affecting portions of Standerton and the Vaal River system.
The Municipality acknowledges the seriousness of the matter and shares the concerns of residents regarding the protection of public health and the environment. Following receipt of the complaint, municipal technical officials conducted an on-site inspection together with Councillor Stoltz to assess the reported sewer spillages and identify the immediate operational challenges contributing to the problem.
The inspection confirmed that several manholes along the sewer line extending from the Poplar Street area towards the Standerton Golf Course are overflowing, with the affected drainage eventually discharging into a spruit that forms part of the Vaal River catchment. The affected sewer line serves a significant portion of the town, including Correctional Services, Kosmos Park and Flora Park, placing substantial demand on the existing bulk sewer infrastructure.
The Municipality recognises that this problem has existed for a considerable period. However, the recurring sewer spillages are not attributable to a single failure, but rather to the cumulative effects of ageing bulk sewer infrastructure, deteriorating mechanical and civil components, increasing wastewater flows and the limited treatment capacity of the existing wastewater system.
A contributing factor to the current overflow is the temporary shutdown of the Vaal Sewer Pump Station following the failure of a severely corroded baffle pipe. A replacement pipe has been procured; however, installation has been delayed after it was discovered that the supplied component had incorrect flange specifications and had to be returned for modification. The Municipality is engaging the appointed service provider to expedite completion of these repairs.
Technical inspections have also identified additional operational challenges at the Vaal Pump Station, including:
- only one of the three installed pumps currently being operational;
- a heavily silted and blocked wet well (sump), significantly reducing pumping efficiency;
- deteriorated valves and associated mechanical components; and
- operational constraints that require specialised engineering interventions to safely clean and rehabilitate the pump station.
While restoration of the pump station will substantially reduce the current sewer spillages, technical assessments indicate that this intervention alone will not provide a permanent solution, as the broader sewer system and wastewater treatment works are operating under significant capacity constraints.
It is important to clarify that the recently completed refurbishment of several sewer pump stations formed part of the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Ministerial Intervention Programme and was implemented in accordance with an approved project scope. The scope primarily focused on restoring the mechanical and electrical functionality of the pump stations, including the replacement and refurbishment of pumps, motors and associated electrical equipment. It did not constitute a complete reconstruction of the pump stations or replacement of all bulk pipelines, valves and associated civil infrastructure. Accordingly, additional infrastructure upgrades remain necessary to address the underlying causes of recurring sewer spillages.
The Municipality has already undertaken significant planning to implement permanent solutions.
The Department of Water and Sanitation approved the Standerton Wastewater Services Feasibility Study in January 2023. The approved study recommends:
- refurbishment of the existing 9 ML/day Wastewater Treatment Works;
- construction of a new 22.7 ML/day treatment facility to increase the total capacity to approximately 31.7 ML/day;
- upgrading of major bulk sewer pipelines;
- upgrading of critical sewer pump stations; and
- rehabilitation of the bulk wastewater network serving Standerton over a 20-year planning horizon.
Following completion of the feasibility study, the project has progressed to the detailed design phase, with the Detailed Design Report completed during 2026. The report confirms that the existing wastewater system is experiencing recurrent sewer spillages, pipe failures, blockages, malfunctioning pump stations and that the wastewater treatment works is operating beyond its original design capacity, requiring comprehensive upgrading.
In parallel, the Municipality, through funding provided by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), is finalising the Water Services Master Plan and Water Services Development Plan. The latest progress report indicates that most of the technical investigations have been completed and that the Water Services Master Plan is currently in its final stages of preparation.
The completion and Council approval of these strategic planning documents will enable the finalisation of the Implementation Readiness Study (IRS), a key requirement for securing national infrastructure funding to implement the large-scale replacement and upgrading of the ageing sewer infrastructure.
Notwithstanding these long-term interventions, substantial work has already been completed through the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Ministerial Intervention Programme to improve sewer infrastructure within Lekwa Local Municipality. These include:
- Rectification of the Standerton Extension 8 sewer network;
- Unblocking of sewer pipelines in Standerton Extensions 6 and 7, TLC and surrounding areas;
- Rehabilitation of sewer infrastructure within the Concor drainage area;
- Unblocking of sewer pipelines within the Standerton CBD;
- Refurbishment of the Vaal, Muller, Johan, Steijn and Taljaard Sewer Pump Stations;
- Phase 2 remedial works to the Standerton Extension 8 sewer system; and
- Repairs to Rooikoppen sewer infrastructure and associated bulk sewer pipelines.
The Municipality is simultaneously implementing immediate operational interventions to mitigate sewer spillages while these permanent infrastructure solutions are being advanced. These include expediting repairs to the Vaal Pump Station, strengthening preventative maintenance programmes, prioritising critical sewer hotspots and exploring additional temporary engineering measures to reduce sewer discharge into the Vaal River system.
Lekwa Local Municipality remains fully committed to protecting the environment, restoring reliable wastewater services and implementing sustainable infrastructure solutions. The Municipality will continue working with the Department of Water and Sanitation, Gert Sibande District Municipality, the Development Bank of Southern Africa and other strategic partners to secure the necessary funding and implement the required bulk sewer upgrades.
In addition to the infrastructure interventions, the Municipality has recently appointed five (5) dedicated Sewer Pump Station Operators to improve the operation, monitoring and preventative maintenance of critical sewer pump stations. This investment in operational capacity demonstrates the Municipality’s commitment to improving the reliability of its wastewater infrastructure and reducing sewer spillages through enhanced operation and maintenance. Together with the ongoing repair of critical assets, implementation of short-term mitigation measures and the planned long-term infrastructure upgrades, these initiatives form part of a comprehensive strategy to restore the integrity of the municipal sewer system and protect the Vaal River environment.
The Municipality appreciates the concerns raised by residents and stakeholders and remains committed to transparent communication regarding progress made in resolving these longstanding infrastructure challenges.