Two Die in Orkney Sewer Tragedy Amid Service Delivery Outcry

Orkney, 15 October 2025: A tragic incident has rocked the Orkney community after two residents lost their lives and another was hospitalised while attempting to unblock a sewer that had been overflowing in their street for several months.

Image: The Go-To Guy Creations

The incident occurred on Tuesday morning on the corner of Shakespeare and Wordsworth Streets, where residents, frustrated by what they described as months of municipal inaction, tried to clear the blocked manhole themselves. According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the men were overpowered by methane gas while working in the manhole. The deceased have not yet been publicly identified.

Police confirmed that the men were employed by a local businessman and were not contracted by the City of Matlosana Municipality to perform any municipal maintenance work. An inquest docket has been opened and investigations into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy are underway.

Municipality Expresses Condolences

In an official statement issued on Tuesday afternoon, the City of Matlosana Local Municipality expressed its “deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences” to the families and loved ones of the two men.

Executive Mayor Councillor Fikile Mahlophe said the municipality was “deeply saddened by this tragic event” and extended sympathies to the affected families, adding: “Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.”

Image: Songloed Buurtwag

Municipal spokesperson Ms. Ntswaki Makgetha confirmed that the deceased were not municipal employees and urged members of the public and the media to “exercise sensitivity and refrain from speculation, allowing due process to unfold and respecting the privacy of the grieving families.”

Residents Point to Longstanding Neglect

Local residents say the tragedy could have been prevented had the municipality responded to repeated reports of the overflowing sewer, which had been causing health hazards and unbearable living conditions in the area for months.

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “We called, emailed, and even went to the municipal offices to complain. The smell was terrible, and sewage was running down the street. Nothing was ever done. They left us to live like this.”

Political Outrage Over ‘Preventable Tragedy’

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Matlosana has blamed the incident on what it calls “chronic municipal neglect and the collapse of basic service delivery under the current ANC administration.”

In a statement, the DA said:

“This devastating incident occurred when residents, out of sheer desperation, attempted to unblock a sewer that had been overflowing for months. Despite numerous complaints and pleas for intervention, the municipality failed to act. As a result, two residents tragically lost their lives, and another remains in hospital.”

Image: Democratic Alliance North West

The party added that no resident should ever have to risk their life to restore a service that the municipality is both legally and morally obligated to provide. It has since called for a full and transparent investigation into the incident to ensure accountability for those whose inaction contributed to the loss of life.

The DA further stated that the tragedy highlights the urgent need for “competent leadership, proper maintenance of infrastructure, and governance that protects residents’ lives and dignity.”

Investigation Continues

Authorities remained on scene for much of the day as forensic teams conducted assessments. The area around the manhole was cordoned off, and several community members gathered nearby, visibly shaken by the loss.

Police have not yet released the names of the deceased, pending notification of their families. The third man remains in hospital under observation. The municipality has urged the public to allow investigations to proceed and said it would cooperate fully with authorities to determine the exact cause and contributing factors behind the incident.

A Community in Mourning

As Orkney mourns the lives lost, questions continue to mount over whether this tragedy could (and should) have been prevented. For many residents, the incident is not just a story of personal loss, but a painful symbol of the systemic failure of local service delivery. “They died trying to fix what the municipality should have fixed,” one resident said quietly, standing near the cordoned-off site. “That’s the saddest part.”