“We can’t even drink water at a water tap next to the hole because of the smell,” says Dumisane Buthelezi.
This 51-year-old taxi commuter feels the metro is not cleaning the blocked sewage drain regularly.
Some of the commuters, who have small children, are worried that the children might fall into the open hole.
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Buthelezi says the manhole cover was removed at once stage and they decided to use three cement blocks to cover the hole.
It is believed a nearby blocked sewage pipe might be the cause of the sewage at the taxi rank.
When the Addie visited the area last Thursday, several people were seen taking water from the tap directly next to the blocked manhole.
According to community members, the smell is terrible.
“The manhole is filled to the brim with human faeces which creates an unhealthy and unhygienic situation,” says Buthelezi.
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He says they have reported this to the metro office at the Springs Civic Centre for months on end, without any results.
Metro spokesman Themba Gadebe says they have dispatched a contractor to clear the problem.
He says the metro will keep monitoring the situation.
The metro instructed the contractor to cement the base on top of the manhole rings by Friday.
“Let us all play our role to keep our city clean,” says Gadebe.
