Sewage flows in the streets of an important town in South Africa

The sewage crisis in Ladybrand has reached such levels that residents are forced to live with raw sewage flowing through the streets.

Ladybrand, founded in 1867, is a quiet town situated in the eastern Free State, on the border of Lesotho.

Ladybrand is located 15 km from Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. Because of this, the town acts as a major commercial springboard.

Many people working or doing business in Maseru live on the South African side in Ladybrand, making the Maseru Bridge border post one of the busiest in the region.

The surrounding Caledon River Valley is highly fertile, which supports large-scale farming, including sunflower seeds, wheat, maize, cattle, and dairy products.

Its idyllic location and regional importance did not protect it from service delivery failures, which have beset the area,

The town falls under the Mantsopa Local Municipality, which has faced criticism for neglecting infrastructure, mismanaging finances, and the collapse of public utilities.

The crisis in Ladybrand revolves around a crippled water system, an ongoing sewage crisis, and a lack of municipal accountability.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has recently highlighted the ongoing sewage crisis in Ladybrand, which it said has reached unacceptable levels.

“Residents are forced to live with raw sewage flowing through streets, residential areas, and public spaces for extended periods,” it said.

“Raw sewage is not merely an inconvenience. It is a serious health hazard that places the well-being of residents at risk.”

One of the most concerning aspects is the repeated claim that no municipal vehicles are available to address service delivery complaints.

Residents have received no meaningful feedback regarding the maintenance, repair or replacement of the municipal vehicle fleet.

“Communities are entitled to know why essential service delivery vehicles are unavailable and what steps are being taken to rectify the situation,” the DA said.

The Democratic Alliance said it will write to the Mantsopa Local Municipality to request an urgent intervention plan.

“We will ask for clear repair timeframes and a full report on the status of the municipal vehicle fleet to address the ongoing sewage crisis in Ladybrand,” it said.