Stench of sewage has residents at wits’ end
"We later noticed that it was accompanied by an unpleasant smell. It was then that we discovered that it was water containing human waste from leaking sewerages,"
KANYAMAZANE – Residents of Section 2 near Ka-Magagula Shopping Centre have complained that they are not coping with the heavy stench emanating from leaking sewerage pipes.
This also poses a health hazard to their children because they play in the dirty water.
According to community members, it had been about three weeks since they had reported this matter to Sembcorp Silulumanzi, but it seems to have been a waste of time as the problem had still not been addressed.
The residents were allegedly informed that Silulumanzi does not deal with telephonic complaints and that they should report the issue in person.
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“The situation is bad. The problem started with leaking pipes. We later noticed that it was accompanied by an unpleasant smell.”
“It was then that we discovered that it was water containing human waste from leaking sewerages.
“When it is hot, it feels as if you are sitting in a dirty toilet. As a parent, what worries me is the health of our children.
“When we are at work, no one is monitoring them. Sometimes you find them playing in the dirty water from the leaking pipes. It is not healthy and they could get infected by diseases such as cholera,” said a concerned parent, Ms Portia Mabika.
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This publication contacted the spokesperson of Sembcorp Silulumanzi, Mr Richmond Jele, who said the matter was not reported to them.
“Let me first indicate that it’s not true that we don’t attend to problems that are reported telephonically. Our control room is central. You can report wherever you are, because we can’t expect a person from Matsulu to come to the city just to report a leaking pipe. It doesn’t make sense.
“The incident was not reported. We went to investigate the issue further from our control room where all complaints are recorded. However, we will be sending our operation team to fix the pipes. What we do know is that construction is taking place there, and as a result the pipes end up getting damaged in the process,” Jele said.
