Residents of Temba continue to grapple with polluted water, failing sewer systems and deteriorating infrastructure, long-standing challenges that have disrupted daily life in Ward 74 and across Hammanskraal.
In an interview with Moretele Times on 6 June, Ward 74 Councillor Zacharea Setimo acknowledged the severity of the situation, saying many of the problems have persisted for years and have deeply affected both formal and semi-formal settlements in the area.
Communities have been battling low water pressure, unsafe tap water, recurring sewer spillages, damaged roads and malfunctioning stormwater drainage systems. During periods of rainfall, conditions often worsen, with sewage flowing into residential yards and even homes due to failing wastewater treatment infrastructure.
“Our people have been severely affected, especially when it rains,” said Councillor Setimo. “At Nkuna, particularly in the two-room area, the wastewater treatment system was not functioning properly. Even light rainfall would cause sewage to flow into residents’ houses.”
Access to clean drinking water remains one of the most pressing concerns. Many residents have reportedly resorted to buying water for consumption amid fears that tap water is contaminated.
“Our water supply is very bad,” the councillor admitted. “We have the Klipdrift plant, and the national government has intervened to help alleviate the problem we are currently facing.”
The intervention at the Klipdrift Water Treatment Plant forms part of broader efforts to stabilise water quality and improve supply reliability in the area. These efforts follow the recent approval of the City of Tshwane’s budget, which prioritises infrastructure upgrades across the metro, including surrounding communities such as Temba.
According to Councillor Setimo, several projects are now underway. These include upgrades to the stormwater drainage system along the R101, improvements at the wastewater treatment plant and ongoing sewer maintenance. The sewer upgrade project, which has employed seven local residents, is expected to run for more than a year as the municipality works to resolve issues residents say have remained unaddressed for far too long.
While acknowledging that service delivery has been slow in the past, Councillor Setimo said the municipality is committed to turning the situation around.
“We know it has been a long time, and service delivery was poor,” he said. “But we ask the community to be patient with us. We now have a government of progressive parties, and we will ensure that services improve to the standard residents expect.”
For residents who have endured years of infrastructure failure, the upgrades cannot come soon enough. Persistent sewage spills, unsafe water and poor drainage have not only disrupted daily life but also posed serious health risks and caused property damage, particularly during the rainy season.
Councillor Setimo said the current interventions mark a turning point in efforts to restore basic services and rebuild ageing infrastructure in Temba, with the aim of delivering safer and more reliable services to the community.
