A sewage spillage that has engulfed Bedford Avenue and Swan Street in the Benoni CBD is causing problems for businesses in the vicinity.
Annatjie Smidt from G&E Panelbeaters revealed that the problem has persisted for the past six months and their clients have to go past it to access their premises.
“It’s bad for business as no one wants to drive through it. If you do get customers, you have to apologise for the smell.
“People think we are closed most of the time as the smell is so bad you can’t leave the reception door open,” she said.
Smidt explained the blockage to the sewerage line in Bedford Avenue started six months ago.
In recent weeks, she said, the blockages became frequent until they overflowed into their properties.
“The sewerage department has come to unblock the system on the street above us. This only causes the sewage to leak from other manholes,” she said.
On the City Times’ visit to the area, we found a pool of water on the corner of Howard Avenue and Swan Street, a few steps from the entrance to Smidt’s property.
Upon further inspection, we learnt that the leak came from several manholes in Bedford Avenue that spilled onto the road and then flow down to Swan where it formed rivers on both sides of the street.
It is a familiar story for Deon Pieterse, whose business is on the corner of Bedford Avenue and Swan Street.
His clients have to go through the sewage to access his premises.
The storm water drains near Pieterse’s business seemed blocked. There’s a pool of water with a thin layer of algae covering the sewage.
He said municipal officials came and said the problem was caused by storm water, but he disagrees since there has not been rain in a while.
Several vehicles could be seen sliding on the water on Howard Avenue and according to Smidt, it’s hazardous for motorists and pedestrians.
“If we don’t clean our own storm drains, the sewage that runs past our shops makes dams on the corners, causing an even bigger health risk to us and people walking and driving in the streets.”
They have reached out to the City of Ekurhuleni and Ward 73 Clr Sipho Ngobese, but their attempts were met with contempt from some municipal employees.
“A municipal worker explained that we must get used to it as they will never be able to fully fix the problem as the sewerage system was not built for all the people now using the buildings as housing.
“He gave me the sewerage complaints number. If you phone, you only get to full mailboxes.
“Clr Sipho Ngobese was here. He took pictures and told me he has escalated the matter.
“I’m really upset because part of our municipality bill is service delivery in the form of storm drains and sewerage drains maintenance,” she said.
The City Times has sent a query to the City of Ekurhuleni and is awaiting their response.
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