STILFONTEIN, North West – Residents of Umgeni, Zandpan, and surrounding areas in Stilfontein are living with a persistent stench as raw sewage flows through residential streets and across agricultural land, creating what locals describe as a severe public health and environmental crisis.
The sewage runoff is traveling from the area toward Klerksdorp, emptying into the Skoonspruit and then into the river. Residents report that animals are drinking the contaminated water and dying as a result.
“It’s horrible, it’s terrible,” one resident said. “The wind — you smell it everywhere in the house. You can’t eat, you can’t make food — stink inside.”
Another resident confirmed that the problem is affecting livestock and property values in the area.
Matlosana Municipality Mayor Fikile Mahlophe highlighted that infrastructure vandalism is at the root of the ongoing sewage spills. He explained that the municipality has previously dealt with line collapses and that major challenges include theft and vandalism of infrastructure, particularly electrical panels.
“Our major problem is theft and vandalism. Most of the electrical panels are broken into,” the mayor said.
Residents expressed frustration that children are still affected by the crisis, with some families considering relocating elsewhere.