Faeces floods Clairwood yards for over a month

FOR almost a month, a Clairwood resident has been swimming in sewer water that has seeped into her yard unabated.
On Friday, 30 March Nafiza Alli woke up to a yard covered in grey water, as the problem apparently started late at night when the sewer pipe began to overflow.
The following day she spent time on the phone, trying to get hold of the municipality to sort out the problem. “They sent a private company to my home, but the man took one look at the problem and left without doing anything. I was told they would come back that afternoon but they never did,” she said.

The Easter long weekend passed without anything being done about the problem while the sewer water keep leaching up through her soil. The stormwater drains in her homes are now also bearing the brunt of the wastewater, as they have blocked which has created an even bigger problem. “We called stormwater department and told them about the problem. While the person who came sympathised with us and told us he would send photos to his manager, still nothing has changed,” she added.

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The stench is almost unbearable, and the family now also have to live with a sinkhole which has formed as a result of the stagnant water. “The rain caused the faeces-infested water to spread. We can’t handle this smell – it’s even inside our homes. We are washing dishes while the odour comes out of the sinkhole,” she complained.
Nafiza claims her three grandchildren, aged between eight and 14, have contracted hepatitis due to the faeces-infested pollution. The noxious smell has not done anything to help her asthma and she has been forced to use her inhaler more frequently than usual.

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According to Clairwood PR Councillor Sharmaine Sewshanker, it is not only Alli’s home that is affected but most businesses and homes on Sirdar Road.
On Friday, 9 March she received a call from a building supplies business in Sirdar Road about a terrible stench in the area.
“On investigation I found the sewer seemed to be overflowing into the business property from the stormwater manholes. It was reported to wastewater management via email and the problem was resolved,” she said. A week later the same problem occurred in Houghton and Persadh roads. This time the raw sewage had flowed into residents’ properties, making it impossible for them to enter or exit their homes. I again contacted waste water management and a blockage was resolved,” said Cllr Sewshanker.

“Two days later, it recurred again, this time causing a huge flood of raw sewage and water all along Houghton Road. I again reported and suggested a more permanent solution like servicing the main pumps to ensure blockages do not recur. I have various reference numbers for the numerous reports made. Wastewater (department officials) confirmed that the problem has no long-term solution as the real issue was the illegal connection of sewerage pipes in the Clairwood area. This has caused a major inconvenience to residents and businesses. I will be addressing the issue with the HOD and will include questions for the city manager on the next council agenda.
The city needs to urgently resolve the ongoing sewer overflow which the residents of Clairwood are experiencing. The Water and Sanitation Unit in the city has failed dismally in finding a long-term solution to this untenable, inhumane and unhygienic situation.

The issue was reported via numerous emails and correspondences to the city’s water and sanitation unit and most recently the head of the unit, Ednick Msweli who is yet to respond.
“Businesses in the area have been severely affected and residents are at risk of exposure to contamination, pollution and all kinds of diseases because of this. Durban was voted the most livable city in SA in 2018, according to the 20th Mercer quality of living report, which included an analysis of waste removal and sewer infrastructure. This is not the case with Clairwood residents, who are forced to wade ankle-deep in contaminated water to access their properties,” she said. Sputnik Ratau of the provincial Department of Water and Sanitation pledged that they will engage with the municipality to resolve the matter. “This is a municipal issue but the department has an interest in the well-being of the environment and society.”

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