Elandsfontein residents live with sewage spills for years

After constantly reporting sewage leaks for years, the residents of Elandsfontein are forced to live with sewage leaking from a manhole behind their backyards.

Despite reporting the matter to the CoE, the residents of Dassie Street in Elandsfontein now face new and old problems because of the recent rainfall.

Rainwater and sewage have inundated their properties.

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Previously, the community expressed their worries about the continued and unresolved health risks.

Nothing much has changed or been implemented by the municipality since Germiston City News (GCN) previously reported on the community’s concerns.

The GCN first reported on these problems in May 2022.

At the time, the Pienaar family on Dassie Street were affected by the sewerage manhole inside their backyard that had been overflowing since August 2021.

In addition to damaging the house’s foundation, Melloney Pienaar, a mother of a six-month-old, said the situation poses health risks.

“My son coughs a lot and often has a fever. He takes deep breaths at night when he sleeps. This forces us to spend much money on his medication,” Pienaar said.

“Seeing the conditions we have become accustomed to living in is heartbreaking.

“I recall how we used to play outside and had unrestricted access to the yard. Rain and sewage now continuously flood the entire backyard.

“Additionally, we lost the tenants who rented our two backyard rooms, which meant we lost money. At this point, both rooms are wet, and the walls are beginning to show cracks.”

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According to Pienaar, damage in the main household is also appearing.

“Water is rising from the floor in the bathroom. In certain areas of the house, the tiles are falling out, and we are always sweeping the ground,” said Pienaar.

“We can no longer dry our clothing in the back like we used to. We are forced to breathe in the foul stench of sewage waste daily. We cannot open windows for ventilation, so how are we supposed to eat?

“The other siblings also regularly visit the doctors. I have lived in this house for the past 20 years since I was seven, and one day, it will suddenly fall on us.

“The eMabhondeni informal settlement was the catalyst for the problem’s creation, and ever since then, the sewage problems have persisted. The city officials used to come and go easily, reblocking the sewage. They now use the creation of the informal structures’ obstruction as an excuse.”

Given the damage the home has incurred and the current living conditions, Pienaar said selling the property to anyone would be impossible.

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“As a result, the value of our properties has significantly decreased. The city has been unable to address these problems for years, other than making hollow promises. They will make more empty promises come election time.

“We were concerned our houses would flood once more over the festive holidays, even if everyone else was having a great time. Who will pay for all of our medical bills and any damage to our belongings and furniture?” asked Pienaar.

Ward 92 Clr Kade Guerreiro visited the residents to evaluate their living conditions. He toured the Pienaar home and the area outside the backyard.

He told the GCN that after several attempts to find answers, the people of Dassie Street still face these challenges.

“All of the rainwater must go to the lowest place because the drainage systems are no longer in working order, which, regrettably, affects certain residents.

“The problems faced by the residents have not received enough attention from the city.

“In Elandsfontein, the illegal power, dumping, and water connections must be addressed, among other problems.”

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Guerreiro said that because the nearby wetland was covered in its entirety with rubble, buildings were erected on it.

“Unfortunately, when it rains, the subsurface water must go somewhere, leading to severe flooding in the area.

“The learners won’t have anywhere to study when the schools reopen on the 17th. This is another comparable predicament that Sizwe Secondary School is experiencing.

“Nothing was accomplished, despite our repeated requests in council for the rehabilitation of the wetland and the relocation of the residents of the informal community,” said Guerreiro.

A request for comment was sent to the CoE on January 10, requesting comment by January noon.

We had received no comment at the time of going to print.