Residents drowning in sewage

Constant spills flooding yards, homes, years on

agxaki residents in Mlungisi not only have to deal with sewage flooding the area constantly, but also that the problem is devaluing their homes.

Siphingo Circle residents said sewerage spills from blocked manholes regularly flooded their houses, destroying infrastructure and putting their health at risk.

We are sinking in a toilet,

“there is no other way to put it,” said resident Phumezo Makana.

The residents said they had complained about the problem for years, only receiving temporary help.

Now they are tired and

“irritated because we are always complaining.

They asked me why I do not “just sell my house because I can

Msee this problem is not going away,” said Nonkosinathi Mpetshwa. Mpetshwa said the sewage flooded her house and garage.

I paid for paving in front of

“my house in the hope it would run into the street but it did not help. While they seem not to care about this problem we are incurring losses,” she said. Thandi Sopazi, Mpetshwa s

’ elderly neighbour, said her car was damaged because of standing in the dirty water. Once it floods the water

“destroys everything. It gets right into the house.

I had chicken hatchlings

“which all died and when it gets really bad it floods the whole back yard and you can t get out.

’

We are living in and

“breathing excrement ... stepping in it and bringing it into our houses,” Sopazi said. Summer rains are a source of trepidation for Lindelwa Kafu, whose house is next to a furrow constantly brimming with sewage water. You would think it has

“rained now. That water is sewage from the New Vale area. If it floods that water gets into my yard and my house.

The tiles in my livingroom

“are ruined and we constantly have to clean the toilet,” said Kafu.

The constant stench also forces residents to keep their windows closed. Because they are unable to “clear the drains the sewage is left to run and dam up behind our houses. Who would buy a house that is constantly in sewerage and in an area that stinks?” asked Makana.

Behind the houses is a pump station which the residents said had not worked for years.

At the time of going to print, CHDM had not responded.

Picture: NTSIKELELO QOYO RUNNING FILTH: Raw sewage constantly running behind the Siphingo Circle area in Magxaki. Residents say when it rains, the sewage floods their yards and homes, while manholes in the area constantly spill excrement and water onto roads in the area