For over two agonising weeks, Derick van Berg and his family have lived with the putrid smell of sewage flooding their garden, threatening his elderly parents’ health and well-being.
The crisis began on September 10, when a sewage blockage in a neighbour’s house flooded into Van Berg’s yard.
Despite reporting the issue to the municipality on September 14 and receiving a reference number, the problem persists. Multiple calls to the call centre have yielded nothing but frustration.
“My parents, both 65, are falling ill due to the putrid smell and unhygienic conditions. We are prisoners in our home, forced to keep the windows and doors shut to escape the stench,” Van Berg explained.
Marius Horn, the property owner where the sewage pipes burst, has also battled the municipality for help.
“I have visited the sewage department daily for two weeks, but no help has arrived. My backyard is flooded, and sewage is now threatening my children’s bedroom window,” said Horn.
According to Van Berg, he sent multiple WhatsApp messages to Ward 38 Clr Thavha Maifala-Masebe explaining his situation. However, the only response he got was an automated one outlining the standard operating procedure for addressing residents’ concerns.
However, for Van Berg and Horn, words are cheap; action is what is desperately needed.
The Van Berg family has lived on the property for 40 years and has never experienced this issue.
In a recent communication between Van Berg and the municipality, a municipal truck team was supposed to go to Van Berg’s home on October 2, but it didn’t arrive.
On the other hand, the municipality told Horn the truck team was busy in the township and he should expect them on October 3.
The Alberton Record contacted Maifala-Masebe, and he said, “As a standard operating procedure on my side, all issues from residents are often referred to departments as soon as they are received on my side. There is hardly a message that goes past me without a response or guidance on how reporting via my channel works.
“As an example, I always request residents to report in the following format: Summary of issue, date or time reported, physical address [where the issue is] and a full reference number [as would have been given by the call centre.
“Should the residents still not be assisted, they are welcome to email me the full details using this email address, and they can do so until they are assisted.”
As the situation spirals out of control, the Van Berg family and their neighbours wonder how long they will be forced to endure this sewage nightmare.
