Sewage overflow worsens at Malacca Road settlement

RESIDENTS of Malacca Road Informal Settlement have voiced their anger and frustration over a steady sewage overflow affecting two Communal Ablution Blocks or CABs (sanitation chambers) at the upper half of the settlement. According to the residents, the leak is in part due to a severe blockage of the piping system running from the sanitation chamber to a soak pit nearby.

When Northglen News visited the settlement last week, raw sewage flooded the walkway outside the chambers and had soaked a large swathe of grass near residents’ homes.

The waste in the soak pit is normally vacuumed by a honey sucker truck sent out by the City however, according to residents, this has not been done in the last four months.

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Rose Dlamini, one of the residents who uses the wash basins outside the CAB regularly said the situation was unacceptable.

“We have someone who contacts the City to inform them to come out and remove the waste but all that happens is she is given a reference number and nothing is done. This pool of waste water has now become a haven for mosquitoes and the smell is worse due to the heat. We have no choice but continue to use the amenities even though it is not working correctly.

“The pipes leading to the soak pit are also blocked and the soak pit is full so a lot the waste and grey water is being forced out through the drains. My concern is my children because of the bacteria in this disgusting water, I’m concerned for their health and the health of all the residents who make use of the CABs,” Dlamini said.

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The Malacca Road resident said she feels infrastructure needs to be addressed.

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