Uitenhage family plead for help over sewage stench
A Uitenhage family is desperate for help from the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality over a recurring back-flow of raw sewage that constantly floods their yard.
Frustrated Rosedale resident Conrad Jansen, 49, who has been living in the house for more than 12 years, said the drain blockage started in 2017 and since then the family had been battling with a constant stench and raw waste onto their property.
“We would call the municipality and they would come after 48 hours to fix the blockage, but hours later it would start to rise up and flow again,” Jansen said.
“We can’t live like this. “Sometimes my wife cries out of desperation.
“The flow is right in front of our kitchen door; it’s difficult to cook and the stench has spread throughout the house.”
He said he had visited the ward councillor and municipal offices for help and he had been told several times that they would fix the pipes.
“We don’t want to fight anyone. All we plead for is a permanent solution to this blockage,” he said.
“It’s so unfair. The stench overwhelms the house’s normal function and health status.
“The faeces even stands in the corner underneath the kitchen window in the valley area.”
He said as the festive season was around the corner, they feared that they would spend Christmas overwhelmed by the sewage stench.
“We were told that there might be a municipal shutdown [of non-essential services] and we fear that we might not enjoy our Christmas holidays.
“All we ask for is permanent help from the municipality.”
Ward 49 councillor Franay van de Linde said the matter had been reported to her office and she had forwarded the complaint to the municipality.
“My office is aware of the constant problem, and the infrastructure superintendent from the infrastructure and engineering department is aware of the matter also,” she said.
She said there was a financial constraint to overcome the challenge.
“The problem is there are no funds at the moment, and as soon as there is budget available the problem would be fixed,” Van de Linde said.
“The pipes are a major job and requires a lot of money. I will keep on checking with the department.”
When Metro Matters queried the matter with the municipality, municipal spokesperson Mthubanzi Mniki said the there were tree roots growing into the sanitation pipeline.
This caused a blockage in the pipeline.
“A team will be dispatched to excavate and remove the tree roots so that the problem can be solved permanently,” Mniki said.
He added that a time frame could not be given as it would depend on the availability of a team.
“An urgency will be exercised to avoid the blockage happening again,” Mniki said.