KaMhlushwa residents call for help as sewage reportedly runs through the streets

Residents in this area say they have been subjected to a health hazard for years and no one has come to their rescue. They have accused Dr Adekunle Mashood of negligence, alleging that the block of flats he built has a leaking sewer that flows into their homes.

According to one of the residents who is most affected by this sewer spillage, Maria Mkhabela, they have reportedly had a series of meetings with Mashood to try and find a solution, but nothing has been done as yet.

“It’s been years of living with this health hazard and it looks like Mashood is not willing to assist. The pipe ends in the middle of nowhere and the sewage spills out onto the road all the way to our homes. I reside at the end of the road, so I am most affected by it. What makes it worse is I sell traditional beer at home and always have a number of people gathering for a drink, which exposes them to this hazard. We have tried digging pits to redirect the sewage, but nothing seems to be working. During the rainy seasons, learners have to pass right through it to get to school. We also have people who use wheelchairs in the neighbourhood, and they have to go through it as well,” said Mkhabela.

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Mashood has refuted the claims made by community members, saying the system is intact and is maintained.

“It is not true that whatever runs through that pipe is sewage from the block of flats. The building is properly maintained, including the drainage system, therefore these are all lies. It might be the shower water from the flats, because that was not connected to the drainage system, but it is entirely that and nothing more,” he said.

Nkomazi Local Municipality’s spokesperson, Cyril Ripinga, said they were not aware of the situation, but would contact the environmental health specialists of the Ehlanzeni District Municipality to conduct further investigations.

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“One of the challenges we have with areas such as the one in question is that the municipality has not been consulted before settling. People just find a piece of land and settle without any approval from the municipality. However, now that we are aware of the issue, we will contact the relevant specialists to investigate, because this is a health hazard to the community members exposed to the spillage,” he said.