Walmer Township residents are fuming about the raw sewage flowing through the streets and, in one case, filling the yard of a family that feels trapped.
The municipality was made aware of the blocked sewage drain almost five years ago.
On entering the bustling settlement, the stench of raw sewage is hard to miss as a dam has since formed along Fountain Avenue.
Less than 100m away, in neighbouring Yoyo Street, a 1km-long sewage stream has been flowing for at least three weeks.
Both areas are frequented by pupils from Walmer Primary and High schools.
According to residents, both have been reported several times but they have yet to receive assistance.
However, the leaks are dwarfed by the situation faced by the Makhohliso family, whose yard regularly stinks of waste as a result of the overflowing drain in front of the Mpukane Street home.
Grace Makhohliso, 52, mother of two children aged 21 and 24, said the waste bubbling from the drain worsened when it rained.“When the problem started years ago, we reported it to the municipality and when we received no help we decided to clean it up almost every day,” Makhohliso said.
She said that after some time, the pool of waste from the drain became worse and her children could no longer clean it.
“My house was always surrounded by filthy, stinking water from the drain and my yard filled with trash and waste. Years went by without any assistance from the municipality.
“I decided to go to the constituency office [last month] and when I got there I begged them to go to my house and see the filth I live in.
“Unfortunately, they were busy, ” she said.
The following day, municipal workers arrived at her house and informed her “they only came to check” what the problem was and report back to the office.
Makhohliso said she contacted the municipality a week later to ask about the drain and was told that her reference number did not reflect on the system.
“We have been forced to keep windows and doors closed to keep the smell out.
“We are scared that the waste might get inside the house,” she said.
“I don’t know what to do anymore. We are getting sick every day because of the smell. The municipality is failing us.”
Ward 4 councillor Ayanda Tyokwana said the matter was reported to him and he made several phone calls to the municipality, which promised to respond to the matter.
Yoyo Street resident Winston Swartbooi, 52, said the conditions were appalling and more should be done.
“It is embarrassing that the municipality has allowed this to carry on for so long.
“The sewage leaks are so evident and growing daily. This should be a matter of urgency,” Swartbooi said.
“But something only gets done once someone is sick enough for them [the municipality] to pay attention. Why must something bad happen for action to take place?”
Nelson Mandela Bay municipal spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki said the issues had been referred to the stormwater sub-directorate.
He said there might be delays in responding due to the strike last week.
The strike is, however, over and workers are expected to be back at work today.