Lower Illovo sewage crisis sickens community

THE community of Lower Illovo has had to endure a massive sewage outfall that has seen streams of raw human waste flow into their yards and a local primary school. The same outfall has been fingered by residents as the source of illnesses that are plaguing members of the community.

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As one enters the village along the main road, a sickening sewage smell permeates the air, causing most people who live in the area to wear masks permanently. One of the houses off 510141 Street near the school, has a dam of sewage that emanates from the overflowing drain near the kitchen door. The raw sewage then makes its way into the neighbouring Illovo Primary School. The school’s principal, Sbusiso Madlala, said the problem has negatively impacted teaching and learning.

“Sewage flows into the school premises inconveniencing both learners and teachers. This is highly hazardous to all on the premises and the school has to be disinfected repeatedly, which is placing a financial strain on the school’s coffers,” said Madlala.

He also said that all windows and doors at the school have to be closed and all times, resulting in poor ventilation.

Pastor Kevin Govender of the Olivet Christian Fellowship Church, said the area’s pump station has not been working and has not been fixed for many years.

“It was broken even before last year’s floods, so even that cannot be an excuse. It affects our services and we had to cancel certain meetings due to the terrible pollution and smell. We cannot have this state of pollution in a place of worship,” said Govender.

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He said the municipality does send trucks sometimes to suck up the overflow, but they are not reliable as they break down often and cannot service the area.

“And the next day the overflow continues again. The root problem is that the pump station needs to be fixed,” said Govender.

A statement from the Illovo Ratepayers Association said it is unfortunate that the residents have been subjected to such unhealthy living conditions.

“In some houses, there’s an indoor blockage and bathrooms cannot be used. This has caused a health hazard so much so that a host of people are getting sick, especially the elderly and children are suffering from nausea and headaches. Some people are putting their jobs at risk as they cannot even wash their work uniforms,” it said.

Ward 98 councillor, Menzi Manqele, could not be reached for comment as his officially listed number went to voicemail. When contacted, eThekwini Municipality asked the SUN to provide reference numbers that show the matter was reported. The SUN provided three. No further correspondence had been received from eThekwini at the time of publication.

An eThekwini sanitation department employee who is familiar with the matter, but is not authorised to speak to the media, said the parts to fix the pump station are in stock, and work to repair it should start later this week.

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