Filthy sewage flood and malodorous odours a big stinker for residents

Residents have experienced excessive flooding within their property for over a year. When they moved into their property in 2022, they did not know about the manhole in their yard, thinking that flooding only happens when it rains. They quickly found out that the manhole was the cause of the flooding.

Athi Mavukwana and his partner Kekeletso Mosana moved into their house and started to notice the flooding increasing when it rained. When their neighbours, three houses down, complained about the same problem, they only then realised that they had the same problem. When their neighbours’ issue was resolved, their flooding did not stop and it started raising more questions.

“We were under the impression that the foundation of the house was uneven, increasing the flooding, little did we know that the manhole in our yard was opened underground causing the flooding and horrible smell,” Mavukwana said.

Joburg Water (JW) was contacted and several calls regarding the matter were logged.

According to JW, the owner should take care of the matter himself as it is not their concern. It was only when a frustrated Mavukwana visited the JW offices to log a complaint that action was taken. Employees from JW came to their house and attended to the matter where they installed an overflow to prevent any further flooding.

“It had to take me travelling to their office several times for them to finally take the matter seriously. Only one man was working to cement the manhole while the other workers sat and did nothing. While installing the overflow, that is when they joined the other man to assist, thinking it would improve the flooding, but it only made it worse. The smell is so unbearable and we have to keep our windows closed in this heat,” Mavukwana stated. He also added that their walls have been damaged and a tree which was close to the wall, became damaged and cracked the wall in their yard resulting in them having to cut the tree.

Mavukwana and his partner tried contacting several people including the MMC for Public Safety, Clr Mgcini Tshwaku, but received no response from him. The councillor of the ward, Jacques Hoon was contacted on several occasions through calls, WhatsApp messages and emails, and there has been no response from him since.

Being agitated with no way forward, Kekeletso contacted the Region C Manager, Randhir Singh who she has been speaking to since March 2023 about the issue.

“I have spoken to him several times and sent him pictures and videos asking only for the manhole to be opened outside our property. He responded by saying he would consult with engineers to assist as it was not easy to move a manhole and the required moving pipes. By January this year he ignored my messages when I followed up on the matter,” Mosana said.

Their property would be infested with used sanitary pads, panty liners, and large amounts of defecation leaving a horrendous smell in their yard.

“My baby is only four months old and she is premature, she can’t have access to fresh air because we constantly keep our windows closed to avoid the smell. She now has heat rash and we are trying to find other alternatives for my child,” Mosana added.

When Clr Theo Doyle arrived at the property to see what actions could be taken, he was shocked to see how common this problem is in the area. He mentioned how, in the past two months, he has attended to many issues that are not in his ward but makes it an initiative to help where he can.

“Ever since I worked in this area, the rate of developments has been very concerning and such problems are not going to go away easily. The infrastructure can’t handle the development rate which is why they will always experience the overflow of sewage,” Doyle said.

“The only solution the couple wants is for them to open the manhole outside their property so they can live without the fear of becoming sick or their baby coming in contact with the smell. They have now placed a log on the manhole to block the excessive smell of fluids hoping it would lessen the flooding,” he concluded.

Clr Hoon was contacted on February 5 and February 6 for comment on the matter. By the time of going to print, no response has been received. As soon as a response is received, a follow-up article will be published.