Sewage spill angers residents in Morningside
A collapsed sewerage pipe in Morningside has left residents displaced as they struggle with the stench of the overflowing sewage.
RESIDENTS in a block of flats on Gladys Mazibuko Road, Morningside, are at their wit’s end with the sewage spill that has flooded their residence and car park.
“Two weeks ago, a sewerage pipe collapsed, and we immediately informed the municipality of the sinkhole. The sinkhole is still not fixed, and as a result, it has been filled by the recent heavy rains, which have caused it to overflow.
The sewerage pipe supports the Overport, Marriott and Morningside areas, and all that sewage is coming back up to us due to the sewage sinkhole not being fixed in time,” said Nick Pitman, a resident of one of the affected buildings.
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When a Berea Mail reporter went to view the sinkhole in Morningside, they found DA Ward 27 councillor Ernest Smith, who said,” Due to the magnitude of the sinkhole, the City had to find a contractor who was reliable and experienced in dealing with sinkholes; unfortunately, that took up a bit of time.
“And when the contractor was finally placed, the weather was not favourable to start working on the sinkhole, and eventually it became evident that the sewerage pipe was old and needed to be replaced, so that also contributed to the problem not being fixed quickly enough, but the contractors are working around the clock to have this fixed.”
Berea Mail contacted the eThekwini Municipality and inquired as to whether they were aware of the sinkhole crisis in Morningside. They responded by saying, ” The City is aware of a 5m deep by 300mm-diameter sewerage pipe which is currently under repair on Gladys Mazibuko Road, Morningside.
“Our teams are on site, working on it and investigating what may have caused the problem.”
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Pitman says they had to leave their homes and seek shelter with friends and family as the stench is unbearable, and the living conditions are unliveable and pose a health hazard to them.
The City contractors are on-site in Morningside, working on sinkholes, which have lately been quite a number around the city as the heavy rains persist.
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