Frustration over stalled R3bn sewerage project

A R3 billion sewerage project in Orlando West, Soweto, has been abandoned for months, leaving residents to endure worsening sewage overflows.

- Thando Nondywana

The project, intended to upgrade critical infrastructure and support the area's booming tourism and business sector, has instead become a major source of frustration.

Residents have been complaining about overflowing sewage since 2010, with the problem worsening as businesses and tourism expanded.

The project began in September 2024, and some progress was made between September and November. But work abruptly stopped, leaving the area in a worse state than before.

Chair of the Section 79 finance committee in the City of Joburg, Mpumi Edward, was concerned over the growing trend of abandoned infrastructure projects.

"Abandoned and incomplete projects have become a widespread issue in Johannesburg. In some cases, projects are completed but never utilised, leading to vandalism," she said.