Pensioner’s broken drain battle
ZWIDE pensioner Nombeko Seyisi, 85, has endured the health hazard of a foul-smelling broken municipal drain in her backyard for the past five years.
And, despite numerous calls, messages and even a visit to the municipality to come and fix the problem, the Seyisi family say nothing has yet happened.
Seyisi said the damaged drain was outside the kitchen door of her Manase Street home and the foul smell emanating from it attracted flies and rats.
“There is a big hole and the smell emanating from there is just too strong,” she said.
“To add insult to injury, the problem has attracted uninvited guests like flies and big rats.
“We desire to build flats in the yard but we cannot do that because of the drain issue.”
To try and block the smell, she has covered the drain with a piece of cloth and put bricks around it but this has not helped.
Several attempts to summon officials to attend to the problem had fallen on deaf ears, she said.
Grandson Ndumiso Seyisi, 49, said he had also reported the problem several times since it first surfaced in 2012 and had received reference numbers that were never followed up on.
“It is a health hazard to my grandmother and her grandchildren,” he said.
Yesterday, he said, following inquiries from The Herald, the municipality had visited the house on Saturday, and they were hoping the problem would be fixed soon.
Although he works in Pretoria, he said he went as far as visiting the mayor’s office in November.
“I spoke to a lady I believe was the personal assistant of the mayor,” but to date nothing had happened, he said.
Municipal director of communication Mzobanzi Jikazana said a technician had been dispatched to investigate.