Sewage issue in Beaulieu resurfaces
FOURWAYS – Sewage leakage on Hawthorn Road causes a serious health scare to the neighboring community.
An ongoing sewage leakage into the stormwater drain on Hawthorn Road and into the Beaulieu Bird Sanctuary has caused havoc for residents of the surrounding neighbourhood.
The leakage started on 22 May, and external communications officer Eleanor Mavimbela from Johannesburg Water explained that they needed 24 hours to investigate and deal with the matter. “When residents send a query, we need to communicate with the depot responsible to get information before we respond. That usually takes time, depending on whether the depot manager needs to investigate. Hence it is not possible to give you an answer immediately. Responding quicker to a query is impossible at times due to the amount of queries we receive daily.”
By 24 May, Joburg Water’s spokesperson Isaac Dhludhlu said, “The sewer leakage was cleared on 22 May. The team that cleared the leakage believe that it was caused by [construction] in the area.”
Claire D’Oliveira, a resident in the area, described the situation as a ‘horrendous ecological onslaught’ to the bird sanctuary.
“The same thing happened last time. It happens, then it dries up. In my opinion, I think it’s coming from a gym in the nearby area when it’s peak hours – they use showers and it overflows, and we report it, which then takes a couple of hours for someone to come. When they arrive, it’s still wet but no longer overflowing. Then they assume it’s sorted and it’s not. Instead, it’s merely paused, that’s what has happened historically.”
Currently away from the office, MMC for Public Safety Michael Sun referred the Fourways Review to the director of Region A Abigale Ndlovu, who declined to comment on the matter and advised the publication to contact Ntshaveni Mukwevho, managing director of Joburg Water. Mukwevho also refused to comment on the matter, stating that he was not at liberty to do so.
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