Frustration upon frustration for Davidsonville resident
Repair work completed by area outside home still looking like a construction site
With one blockage freed, the water still finds a way in.
In late 2021, Faizel Rossouw was approaching breaking point due to the condition of his backyard. A blocked and leaking sewerage pipe was flooding his yard, leaving stagnant pools of raw effluent submerging much of the space outside his front and back door. Unable to breathe without the reminder of what was bubbling outside, life for him and his family was becoming an unbearable health emergency.
Daily calls to Johannesburg Water and several visits from contractors left Faizel running in circles. The logistical challenge of repairing the pipe was caused by a manhole cover which had been concreted over. After having spent two weeks in the muck, Johannesburg Water began work at Faizel’s property at the corner of Troy Street and Nick Toomey Boulevard.
“Johannesburg Water negotiated with the client to install a manhole outside the property so as to access the line,” confirmed Johannesburg Water spokesperson, Puleng Mopeli.
“We will monitor the site for future blockages; however this will no longer affect the property,” she added. While stagnant sewer water is no longer a problem, he is upset at the condition that his property has been left in.
In order to complete the work, contractors dug a massive trench alongside his property and two sections of his precast boundary wall needed to be removed. As of the end of April, the gap in the wall has grown, as additional sections have sunk into the trench that was left behind. Seeking answers and guidance, Faizel has been told by contractors that he must rebuild his own wall.
Compounding Faizel’s frustration, another unrelated water leak is again leaving the trench flooded, albeit with fresh water. Faizel attributes these pools of water to a broken water meter at the back of his neighbour’s property. Water from the leaking meter flows through his neighbour’s yard and begins to pool in the corner of Faizel’s property which is slightly downhill from the meter.
The resident has reported the leaking meter and is hoping for a swift response, even if the anger around the flooded trench is secondary to the large amount of wasted fresh water. The hole in the wall, clearly visible from the busy road which runs nearby, is a security risk which forces the family to have the dogs locked up inside the house or on a leash in their own yard. Not done with the entity, Faizel vows to keep pushing for a resolution.
