A Homelake pensioner has made a desperate plea to residents of Rand West City to help clean her yard that is covered in sewage residue that is putting her and her pets at risk.
Speaking to the Herald about her ordeal, the 64-year-old Elizabeth Marais said it took 25 buckets of 20 litres each to scoop out sewage in her backyard just to clear her doorway.
Marais said she couldn’t even eat because of the nausea caused by inhaling the stench for several days, and that she and her dogs had fallen ill. She explained that for the last 13 years whenever the manhole on Lot Street became clogged, her drain system overflowed; but recently the problem became more persistent, an issue that was exacerbated by her low-lying property.
Indeed, when you enter her backyard, you’re suddenly met by the revolting smell and sight of human faeces, used condoms, sanitary pads and even newspapers.
It’s really unbearable,” Elizabeth said.
She further explained that initially, roots from overgrown trees caused the blockage, but now she believes that the problem is caused by those living in nearby overcrowded houses that are used as communes.
“Now I’ve got to deal with items like pieces of material, newspapers vegetables, plastic and tampons that are floating and flowing like an endless river into the street,” Marais said.
She said after reporting the issue to the Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) she was left with no choice but to use buckets to clear her property of the smelly sewage spills.
I’m quite upset about this because it was a difficult exercise; it took me five hours to clear it from the backyard – it was raining and I was soaking wet,” Marais said.
According to Ward 6 councillor Peter Erasmus, the matter was reported to the Department of Water and Sanitation at RWCLM on Friday April 1, at around 16:30, which was after hours.
“Because it was such as serious case we’ve also tried to get hold of the head of the department. His phone was off, but we left WhatsApp messages for him,” Erasmus said.
Erasmus said as went beyond the call of duty to get hold of the supervisor of the department – something that wasn’t even allowed, but he was told that the RWCLM workers weren’t working after hours anymore.
He said although workers were sent out eventually to unblock the drains they didn’t clean up the residue of the sewage in Marais’ yard.
