Sebokeng, Gauteng – A Sebokeng family is in mourning after Dimakatso Mofokeng, 52, died just days after Emfuleni Local Municipality workers allegedly demanded a R300 bribe to fix a raw sewage problem that had been plaguing her home for months. The Mofokeng family and their neighbours believe that the toxic environment she was forced to live in contributed to her death.
Dimakatso Mofokeng was admitted to hospital on 17 March, a day after the alleged bribery incident, and died three days later.
Her family was forced to prepare for her sendoff amid the stench of the flowing sewage – faeces, used condoms and diapers – cluttering the yard, with mourners having to endure it all on the day of her funeral.
According to Dimakatso’s younger sister, Morena Mofokeng, Dimakatso had been ill for a month, complaining of chest congestion and breathing difficulties. Morena said her condition worsened, and she was rushed to hospital, choking and coughing up blood and phlegm.
"We cannot say for sure that her illness was caused by the sewage, but we believe that was the cause because even on her death certificate it is indicated that she died of unnatural causes. No one can live in this environment for such a long time and be normal," said Morena.
Dimakatso’s aunt, Meisie (68), recalled how vibrant and healthy she was before the sewage started flooding their yard last November and how her pleas to the municipality were ignored.
She said that, a day before she was admitted, Emfuleni municipality workers had come to her house and allegedly demanded that she pay R300 before they would do anything.
Meisie said she was not certain whether her niece had paid the bribe but that, because the problem was not fixed, it meant she did not have that money, as she was unemployed.
She said: "What I know is that she was asked for the money and that she was worried about her health because of the conditions she was living under with her children. The blame should be put squarely on the uncaring municipality."
The tragic death has ignited outrage in the community, with residents pointing fingers at the Emfuleni Local Municipality for its alleged negligence and failure to address the persistent sewage crisis in the area.
When the news crew visited the area in Sebokeng Zone 2, Extension 10, an entire block was flowing with raw sewage, with eight children in one house coughing and wheezing in the filth. Their 68-year-old grandmother, Mmamutsi, who suffers from several health conditions, also coughed violently until tears welled in her eyes during the interview.
Mmamutsi's yard is a cesspool, with a cocktail of faeces and urine bubbling up from the back yard. The family has had to place bricks just to keep their feet above the raw sewage flood, to reach the kitchen door.
She said: "This is the life we have been subjected to by the uncaring Emfuleni municipality. We are all sick in this house. All my grandchildren have been affected and have been coughing and suffering from sinuses for months now. I have asthma; I have heart problems; I am also diabetic. Municipal workers wanted R400 to unblock the clogged sewer line, but I am unemployed."
Another neighbour, who requested anonymity, claimed that municipal workers had demanded that residents collectively raise R3,500 for them to fix the problem.
The allegations of bribery have added fuel to the fire, with residents accusing municipal workers of exploiting their desperate situation.
Emfuleni municipality spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni said they have not received any formal complaint on the bribery allegations.
He said: "Should we receive a complaint, we will definitely investigate, and we invite anyone with information to share it with us."
However, residents remain sceptical, citing the municipality's track record of inaction and neglect.
The sewerage crisis in Emfuleni has persisted despite significant financial investments in sewer infrastructure. According to a Gauteng cooperative governance and traditional affairs legislature reply, the municipality spent R202.6 million on sewer-related services between 2019 and 2024, engaging 71 contractors. Shockingly, two contractors pocketed R24 million and R23 million, respectively.
The revelation of these expenditures has raised questions about the effectiveness of the municipality's interventions and the potential for corruption within the system.
The community of Sebokeng is demanding answers and accountability from the Emfuleni Local Municipality. They are calling for a thorough investigation into Dimakatso Mofokeng's death, the alleged bribery incident, and the overall management of the sewage crisis.
Residents are also urging the municipality to prioritise the health and well-being of its citizens and to take immediate action to address the sewage problem that is plaguing their community.
The death of Dimakatso Mofokeng serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of government incompetence and neglect. It is a tragedy that could have been prevented if the Emfuleni Local Municipality had fulfilled its responsibility to provide basic services to its residents.
As the community mourns, they are also vowing to fight for justice and to ensure that no other family has to endure the same suffering. The residents of Sebokeng are determined to hold the Emfuleni Local Municipality accountable for its failures and to demand a better future for their community.
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