Residents of Duzamanzi Flats in Ramsgate have been forced to live with their windows closed at all times, to keep out the stench of sewage from entering their homes.
The stench comes from a sewer pump overflow reported to Ugu District Municipality over three months ago. A honeysucker team is sent out after it overflows, however residents feel that a permanent solution is needed.
Gordon Hartslief, a resident and Board of Trustees member at Duzamanzi said after the honeysucker team leaves, the flow stops, and in the afternoon it overflows again.
He suspects a blockage in the main line.
“Ward councillor Alan Bosch has been to the premises. Our concern is that the sewage flows directly into a river and ends up in the sea. Ducks and peacocks are consuming it, and fish in the river are also affected,” Hartslief added.
He said at first Ugu said the pump needed to be replaced.
The Zamisanani Project honeysucking team confirmed that they have been doing the job for over three months. The team leader said they are only capable of doing half the job as a result of insufficient resources. “If Ugu could provide us with a generator, we could do a better job. It is also unfortunate that on rainy days we cannot come out and that is when it becomes an absolute mess,” the leader said.
Paul Ekermans, the chairman of the Duzamanzi Board of Trustees said it is unhygienic for residents to live in such conditions.
“The damage the sewage causes in the garden and the river is uncompromisable. I don’t know how our beach is still open, we might even lose our pilot Blue Flag status,” said Ekermans.
He said at some point a team from Ugu opened the drains and left. “We suspect that Duzamanzi is not the only complex affected.”
Ekermans wants answers from Ugu and a permanent solution. “Sending a honeysucker contractor four days a week must cost the municipality a fortune. We believe that a new and bigger pump could resolve this, however we have heard the Ugu does not have spare pumps, we are not sure how factual this is.”
Ward councillor, Alan Bosch said he has done everything to get the matter sorted, however has not been successful. “I have contacted department heads and Ugu management and to date, they have not taken this matter seriously,” said Bosch.
A stakeholder meeting between Ugu and the Ramsgate Residents and Ratepayers Association was meant to be held last Wednesday, however there was no representation from the ratepayers or Ugu which has left the residents feeling misled.
Ugu was contacted for comment. Acting spokesperson Zimbini Mpurwana said that the municipality will send out a team to investigate and determine the cause of the overflow. Thereafter necessary steps will be taken to address the matter.
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