The community of Rockville in Hammanskraal is in a desperate situation after the Lawyers for Human Rights deserted them on the case of bad smell from a nearby sewerage. The community is complaining about the bad smell that comes from their new local sewage plant that was constructed in 2014.
Members of the community said their local municipality have neglected them after they had raised complaints about the bad smell from the sewerage plant. The sewerage plant system that is meant to separate water from human waste is only a stone throw away from their houses.
The community resorted to take the matter to lawyers for human rights as their cry had fallen to deaf ears but there is also no action from the Lawyers for Human Rights which rises suspicions from the community that the state has obstructed the case.
Mkhulu Ronny Makoene has lived in Rockville for the past 50 years and says he has never had any issues with the old plant before until it was expanded to cater for other surrounding neighbourhoods.
“Since the plant was expanded, we have been facing challenges with polluted air that we inhale from the sewerage plant.
“When the system starts operation, I cannot even seat outside because of the bad smell that comes from the plant, we always stay indoors to avoid inhaling polluted air.” He said.
The community members said they have asked their local councillor to build a high-rise wall surrounding the plant so that the polluted air does not reach their homes but their call have fallen on deaf ears.
“We strongly suspect the state has interfered with the case because we no longer get feedback from the Lawyers for Human Rights,” said Makhulu.
Members of the community says they have lost hope in their local Councillors because they do not serve their purpose as public servant.