The Wadeville Action Group (WAG) is calling on environmental organisations, conservation bodies, government authorities and the media to urgently investigate an ongoing sewer infrastructure failure that is impacting the Wadeville industrial area and threatens the ecologically sensitive Rondebult Nature Reserve and Bird Sanctuary.

For several weeks, and in some locations for significantly longer, businesses in Wadeville have reported severe sewer blockages, sewage spillages, and persistent foul odours affecting industrial roads including Lamp Road, Dekema Road and surrounding areas. Numerous complaints have been lodged with the City over an extended period.

Recent investigations have established that the blockage is extensive, reportedly stretching as far as Moore Street and occurring at depths of up to four metres, requiring major excavation and repair work.
Of particular concern is evidence that sewage overflow is entering stormwater systems, neighbouring wetland areas and ultimately flowing toward the Rondebult Nature Reserve and Bird Sanctuary. This raises serious concerns regarding environmental contamination, public health risks and potential impacts on protected birdlife and wetland ecosystems.

Businesses operating in the area have described the odour as intolerable and have expressed growing concerns about employee health, environmental degradation and the long-term impact on the surrounding natural environment.

WAG has worked alongside municipal officials and local stakeholders to assist where possible, including facilitating access to equipment required for repairs. However, the scale of the problem highlights the urgent need for intervention and oversight from environmental authorities.

We are calling on:

• Environmental organisations and conservation groups to assess the impact on the Rondebult wetland system and bird sanctuary.
• Provincial and national environmental authorities to investigate potential environmental harm.
• The City of Ekurhuleni to prioritise permanent resolution of the sewer infrastructure failure.
• Affected businesses and residents to continue documenting and reporting incidents.

The Rondebult Nature Reserve and Bird Sanctuary is an important environmental asset, and every effort should be made to prevent further contamination while remediation work continues. The Wadeville business community remains deeply concerned about the environmental consequences if this situation is not resolved urgently.