Disgruntled Bedfordview resident Adamandia Valassopoulos (66) has been living with bad odour in the air, stemming from a sewerage leak on Concorde Road East for the past month.
“You can smell it, but you cannot see it. I then started seeing water flowing opposite my home on October 15,” said Valassopoulos.
Valassopoulos said she reported the problem to Ekurhuleni’s sewerage department, but had no response.
“I have reported the problem to Ekurhuleni for the past 10 days, but every time I just receive another reference number,” said Valassopoulos.
She said she also visited the disaster and emergency management services to report the problem only to receive another reference number.
“I have two small grandchildren and we have to close our noses all the time. I cannot tell them to play outside any longer due to the smell,” said Valassopoulos.
Also read: Sewage taking over our waterways
Valassopoulos said her neighbours, who are on-site contractors, have also experienced water issues on their premises which they believe is resulting from the sewerage leak across the road.
“This type of issue has happened before. I’m not sure if this is the entire Bedfordview’s sewerage,” said Valassopoulos.
She said that she has also seen people pass by, closing their noses and looking around to see where the smell is coming from.
Also read: High Road resident in Edenvale concerned about leaking sewage
“I have been here since 1980. Everybody else has left. I am still here. It is just not right to live like this,” said Valassopoulos.
Valassopoulos contacted Ward 20 Clr Jill Humphreys who also reported the problem.
Humphreys said she escalated it again on October 23.
“I have spoken to the water department. Residents get extremely upset especially when it comes to sewerage. I believe that the department cannot do what they are supposed to do, due to being under-resourced,” said Humphreys.
Also read: Raw sewage leak in Highway Gardens attended to
City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Themba Gadebe said metro is aware of the problem on Concorde Road.
He said the water and sanitation department was responsible for the leak and they cleared it on October 23.
“Regarding the various reference numbers issued, residents should note that metro only responds to the first one. The city’s water and sanitation officials responded on October 22 and could not clear the blockage. We then called in the assistance of a high-pressure jet truck to assist,” said Gadede.
