FUMING Clermont residents, who can longer suffer the putrid smell emanating from a road covered with raw sewage, resorted to closing off the road at the weekend.
Seventeen Avenue has become one of the major roads used by taxis and motorists to gain entry into Clermont due to the Go!Durban bus project’s ongoing roadworks in Dinkelman Road, New Germany.
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Mornings and afternoons are the busiest as crowds of people walk on the road to get to their workplaces in New Germany and Pinetown.
This becomes a major problem for pedestrians who are regularly splashed with this stinky water from passing cars. Even motorists have to close their windows against the nauseating smell when driving past.
A resident, Thulani Msane, said the sewage issue was reported numerous times but, after a week of no response or action from the municipality, residents became fed-up.
“In less than two months, the sewerage pipe has burst about four times. Even on 24 December, a time where people are merry and cooking feasts, we had to inhale this horrible smell.
“There are people who are running businesses along this road; people are selling fruit, vegetables and cooking meals. How are they supposed to continue trading? For many of them, this is the only income they have,” said Msane.
Besides this being a problem for residents, pedestrians, motorists and traders, the resident added that the stinking water filled with faeces is being spilled into a river which runs just down 17th Avenue.
Another resident, Busi Nene said, “This road has had this problem for as long as I could remember and it has become a joke to passers-by and it is referred as ‘faeces road’. We get mocked all the time.
“There are small children who are forever sick as this is not just smelly and unsightly, but a major health hazard,” she said.
The protest reached ANC councillor, Neli Nyanisa, who responded on Saturday night to inspect the road and speak to the relevant department.
Nyanisa returned the following morning to wait for the Roads and Stormwater Maintenance Department. “I sat there up until the afternoon to ensure the problem was resolved.
When asked if the source of the problem has been identified, Nyanisa said she is still waiting for the report.
“My job on Sunday was to make sure that the road was cleaned and cleared. If the problem lies with the infrastructure then it will have to be redone,” she said.
Msane added that he was very happy with the way they cleaned the sewer this time. “The people who were sent today, I believe did a thorough clean-up and some investigations.”
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