BCM flounders while Mdantsane family lives with sewage overflow for four years
For four years, a Mdantsane family has had to contend with the unbearable stench of sewage overflowing into their NU9 home and yard.
The nightmare started in 2016 when a sewerage pipe burst near the Mbathanis’ home.
Despite being fixed by Buffalo City Metro on occasion, the pipe would simply burst again within months, a desperate Sindiswa Mbathani said.
She said it became worse in summer.
“The municipality does not help us at all. We have been in this kind of situation for years now. The sewage sometimes even flows inside the house.
“I would really like to get some help. My child and I will die from this,” she said.
The piece of land on which the pump is situated has been the subject of a lengthy dispute, with BCM saying the sewer pipeline for a block of flats built on the land may not have had municipal approval.
However, Mbathani denies this.
“My grandparents also used to report this to the municipality. The flats they are talking about were only built this year and we have had this problem as far back as 2016.
“The municipality will only fix it for a moment and within a few months it is back to overflowing. The whole house smells inside.”
The matter has been reported to BCM several times with no action, she said.
“I have been asking them for a permanent solution since 2016.
“I met the managers at the sewerage department and I have also spoken to several councillors.
“I am not receiving any help. “They keep on saying they will come and check it out but no one comes. The situation is now damaging my backyard. “We get sick from this.
“I live with a 14-year-old child. My sister’s seven-year-old also used to live with me but we had to send her away due to this situation.
“The smell is all over the house and it’s not easy to eat or cook. We go to a friend’s place to eat and spend the rest of the day there.”
BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said the municipality was investigating the matter.
“Our sanitation department has received this report and officials have been to the site to investigate the cause of this frequent blockage despite unblocking of this section of the pipeline on several occasions recently.
“The team has confirmed the severely unhealthy conditions affecting the resident, and the urgency required to deal with the matter.”
He said the investigation would be completed by the end of the week.
“Preliminary investigations seem to suggest that the blockage may be caused by a block of flats recently constructed next door to the affected household.
“The block of flats is infringing on the pipeline servitude, and may have not been submitted for municipal approval, or not been constructed in line with approval conditions.
“Their connection to the municipal pipeline seems to be in the opposite direction of sewage flow.
“Such illegal connections may pose a problem like the one now experienced,” Ngwenya said.
The smell is all over the house and it’s not easy to eat or cook. We go to a friend’s place to eat and spend the rest of the day there