. . . as sewage floods city streets

TEMPERS in Pescodia have reached “boiling point” after a blocked sewerage pipe caused raw sewage to flow into the streets for more than a month already.

Residents from Chopin Street yesterday said that they had become “sick and tired” after spending their festive season with a “rancid smell and shocking site” as raw sewage, already damming up ankle deep, continue to spill into several streets in the area.

According to them the Sol Plaatje Municipality was “doing nothing” while the current heatwave is aggravating the problem.

At the corner of Chopin and Mozart streets, a massive dam of sewage, spanning from curb to curb, has been collecting for what residents say has already been more than a month.

Vehicles using the road are forced to drive on pavements in order to avoid the pool of foul smelling waste, while pedestrians have to cover their noses to avoid the rancid smell.

At the corner of Chopin and Beethoven streets, the remains of a dried up sewage dam can been seen.

Residents bemoaned the fact that they had to spend the festive season, with friends and family visiting, with doors closed and unable to go outside.

“In this heat, we are unable to open windows and doors, or even use air-conditioners, as the smell is just to horrible. It also leaves a bad impression of the city on visitors,” Richard Krots said.

Others added that the situation had become “completely unbearable”.

“No-one should be allowed to live like this and the municipality must urgently intervene,” another resident said.

Municipal spokesperson, Sello Matsie, said that they were informed of the sewage dam in Chopin Street and would use contractors to unblock the blockage, which occurred in a pipe four metres deep. “Meanwhile, a municipal worker will regularly pump out the dam of sewage,” Matsie said.