Sewage nightmare
Toddler nearly drowns in one of several smelly, flooded yards
While many people welcomed the recent downpours, some Newvale residents dread it when it rains.
Lindiwe Ratsibe, a resident of Oxford Street in Newvale, said her one-year-old grandson almost died on Saturday when he was swept into a manhole by water. Every time it rains my yard “is flooded with sewage because of blocked drains. We first saw the dirty
“water coming into our bathroom before we were aware it had flooded the whole yard,” Ratsibe said.
The toddler was rescued in the yard by his cousin.
The family has a manhole in their yard which they had opened because the sewage had been pouring out for days. Ratsibe s house is one of
’ several in the area which is often flooded by sewage.
Behind the row of houses is a furrow where the water is polluted by excrement.
Resident Thelma Ngaphi said: No one cares about our
“problem. Our furniture is ruined because this water constantly floods our houses. We have to use bricks to
“elevate everything because we constantly have sewage coming in.
Our councillor, Ongama
“
Adonis, was here and promised that this would be fixed. We have children and this water is making us sick. We have to keep doors
“and windows closed because it stinks. The furrow was full and the rain made it worse.”
Alvin Rickles said the situation was unbearable. We could not even get out “of the house. There was so much water it reached the bumper of the car,” he said.
Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) spokesperson Lonwabo Kowa said councillor Adonis had forwarded the problem to the
Chris Hani regional municipality.
The affected families informed the ward councillor, Adonis, who swiftly went on site and contacted Chris Hani District Municipality who are responsible for sanitation. When there was slow
“response, the councillor contacted senior officials of CHDM and the problem was resolved on Wednesday,” said Kowa.
He said the furrow would be attended to by EMLM. The councillor noted
“heaps of refuse and other foreign objects that had been put into the channel, blocking the water flow,” Kowa said.
The channel will be revitalised and the municipality is already unblocking drains.”
In reply to questions sent to CHDM, spokesperson Thobeka Mqamelo said: The
“houses are lying on a flood plain area which is prone to flooding. This is aggravated by a torn [sic] stormwater drain that gets blocked by illegal dumping activity. Whenever it rains, water
“flows to the stormwater drains which are always blocked and overflow to the houses. Sewer blockages are
“mainly caused by foreign objects due to illegal dumping, and the houses are affected. However, this particular
“blockage has been attended to and rehabilitation [application of chemicals to reduce the stench] is in progress.
We are engaging with
“
Enoch Mgijima on how the channel can be kept clean to allow the flow of water, while our environmental health services, working with Enoch Mgijima, also have a programme that seeks to mitigate on such issues. Through the programme
“one illegal dumping site at Mlungisi has been cleared, concrete tables placed and beautifying and tree planting are to be done.”