A cesspool of sewage and rubbish is flooding gardens in Motherwell – and angry residents say it is just a matter of time before serious health implications are seen.
They say the source of the problem is a blocked drain in Mtendweni Street which has been overflowing and flooding yards for almost two weeks.
According to the residents, the problem began early in 2018 and has been reported to the municipality several times.
Residents also say that an open space not far from houses in Mtendweni Street is being used as a dumping site, exacerbating the unhygienic conditions in the area.
On Thursday, the stench was overwhelming, yards were flooded and rubbish floated in the pooling water.
Nomvula Lindi, 56, said every time officials were called to fix the sewage pipes it was not long before they were broken again.
She said because of the blocked pipes, dirty water spilled out and residents were forced to walk through it daily.
“I don’t know how many times we have reported the matter to the officials and sometimes engineers just come and observe. There are mosquitoes breeding in the water, which can lead to diseases,” Lindi said.
She said she was concerned for the health of children in the area as they constantly played in and around the fetid water.
“We live in filth and the muPhumeza nicipality does not care about us or our health.
“Every day we breathe this filth and with summer approaching the smell is going to be worse.”
Tshisani, 32, the mother of a five-month-old baby, said she believed the stink from the leaking drain had affected her child’s health.
The problem had also affected their house, with waste flooding their yard.
“We’ve been reporting the sewage leak, but nothing has been done about it.
“It’s a health hazard not only for the kids but for all of us.
“It’s stinking and bad,” Tshisani said.
The open space not far from Mtendweni Street that is used as a dump site was also a problem because when it rained, all the rubbish, along with the sewage, flooded the roads and yards, Tshisani said.
“This is bad and we wish the municipality could fix the pipes. We can’t continue living like this.”
Nelson Mandela Bay municipality spokesperson Mthubanzi Mniki said the municipality was aware of the blockage and a team had been dispatched to clear the pipe on Tuesday and had managed to clear the blockage.
“The pipe has blocked again and the team is back on site attending to the problem.
“A foreign object seems to be lodged in the pipe, which is 6m deep.”
He said that if this attempt was not successful, excavation would have to be carried out to remove the obstruction.