Residents fume over stench
A PERSISTENT sewage-like stench has left residents of Isipingo Beach fuming.
The smell is believed to be coming from a river running behind residents’ homes, and now residents fear the cause could be a health hazard and a danger to the eco-system.
While they say they have made numerous complaints to the eThekwini Municipality, the city’s spokeswoman, Tozi Mthethwa, said they were not aware of any problem.
Linda Govender, whose family have lived in the area for the past 30 years, recalled the river and surrounding areas being a haven for fish, birds and animals – now it is dirty, polluted, and infested with flies and mosquitoes.
“The smell started a few years ago but really became bad last year. It smells like sewage and something rotting. It is simply disgusting and it makes us lose our appetite,” she said. “We have to lock our windows and doors and turn on the air conditioners to rid our homes of the smell.”
Govender, a Zumba fitness instructor, said she had had to cancel her classes at home because the smell was too powerful for her students.
“I have been complaining to the municipality about the stench and all they have done is send out inspectors, but we have not received any assistance. This river needs to be cleaned up and we need to find out where the smell is coming from and what can be done.”
Another resident, Pashnie Govender, said her main concern was residents’ health.
“The smell makes you feel sick. There are red and yellow flies that are triple the size of your normal fly that buzz around the home. It is such an unhygienic environment and it is killing our natural environment. Previously, there was beautiful bird life and ducks, but now there is nothing,” she said.
Govender added that simple things like hosting a birthday party at home were becoming a problem.
“We had a few guests over and everything was fine, then all of a sudden the smell started,” she said.
“It was so embarrassing – we had to move the party indoors and apologise to our family and friends.
“The municipality needs to do something about this issue.”
Mthethwa said a municipal official from the relevant section had been sent to investigate the smell.
“Thereafter he will compile a report detailing the necessary interventions to address the matter.”
South Durban Community Environmental Alliance coordinator Desmond D’sa said the Isipingo Beach area had been plagued with pollution for more than five years.
“This is an ongoing problem in the area and for years we have been trying to get the municipality to investigate what is polluting the river and causing such foul smells.
“Tests are done, but residents received no feedback,” he said.
“There is no money being poured into infrastructure in the area.”
D’sa said while aquatic life and plants were dying, the municipality was not looking at the issue seriously.