ALBERTON- Streams of sewage flow down Pongola Street on a regular basis, endangering the health of local residents, children, babies and animals alike.
Numerous complaints of sewage erupting in the gardens of several houses in Pongola Street, Brackendowns, have fallen on deaf ears.
Mr. Long, who has lived in number 2 for four years now, reports that this regularly happens every two months. On December 8 last year it erupted and it took the council until December 22 to unblock the drain, basically ruining their Christmas holiday. The sewage was pushing up through the toilets and showers, and in the downstairs area the room floor was covered in it. He phoned the council twice a day to find out why nobody had come to clear the blockage. He was either placed on hold or they would tell him to wait for 48 hours and then phone again. Chemicals used to disinfect the area have cost this family a lot of money.
Neighbours in number 4 have the same problem, and when the council unblocks the one drain it just pushes up in the next garden.
People are forced to walk through it pushing prams, walking dogs and live with the smell. Lynn Holme, who lives in the street, has been repeatedly diagnosed with E.coli infection and the dogs have suffered from bad stomachs.
They have submitted a claim to the EMM for medical expenses, but have not received any response.
This is an ongoing issue and is not a once-off unblocking activity. A permanent solution consists of pipes being dug up and replaced. In a desperate measure some of the residents have dug a permanent trench to release the sewerage into the street.
When the blockage occurs, the sewage runs down Pongola Street to the Caltex garage in Vaal Street. Residents drive a number of diseases into their properties and carry that into their homes. The words of Mr Holme sum it up accurately: “The sewage runs into the storm water drains that run into the Klipriver and effectively into our drinking water!”
