Dube property gets flooded by sewage

TEMBA Vundla lives on top of sewage in his home in Dube, Soweto, – and Johannesburg Water is doing nothing about it, he says.

He describes his property as the local sewage dump.

Vundla has hefty bills to show for the money he spent on disinfectants, boots and gloves, all items he is forced to use to prevent his house becoming a health hazard.

“The pipe bursts frequently and, at times, we find it difficult to get in and out of our home.

“The concrete paving outside our double garage has been repaired numerous times at our expense, never mind the water bill from hosing away the faeces at the entrance to our house.”

The cover of the stormwater drain has been removed and the council has not replaced it.

“This is dangerous for children as they could injure themselves,” Vundla says.

“The council would then cry crocodile tears, visiting the parents of the injured child. We used our own money to close some ditches around the property, but not satisfactorily. These ditches are on both sides of the road.

“Why must I incur all these expenses when we have a municipality?” he says.

Vundla parks his car in his neighbour’s yards because he cannot get into his garage. He has placed a rock on the manhole to prevent its cover for either being washed away by the overflowing sewage or being stolen.

“I just want this problem to go away and to lead healthy lives like normal human beings. We were promised a better life. Let us see it materialise. Maybe this has to be brought to the attention of the new mayor and his team,” Vundla says.

Last week, things got so bad because of another pipe burst that he and his family were prevented from leaving the house.

Johannesburg Water has repeatedly been asked for comment by MetroWatch since August 29, to no avail.