WATCH: Recurring blocked Verwoerdpark sewer becomes a health risk

A frustrated Duarte Gonçalves has put his foot down after having experienced a terrible smell from a blocked sewer in the veld behind Haydock Crescent.

This recurring problem has periodically occurred for about four years, and according to Gonçalves, it has worsened since the beginning of lockdown.

The father of two told the RECORD their doors and windows have to forever remain closed because of this awful smell.
At times, human faeces is said to be in plain sight and the smell gets worse in the late afternoons after a sunny day.

“When we have a problem we call the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) and all they do is push the sewage down with their pipes. After a couple of months it starts piling up again and if the pressure from the manhole gets high, it pops up the manhole cover,” he said.

Not only is this a health concern, he said the overflowing sewage may lead to pylons rusting, which may result in costly expenditure for CoE.

He also highlighted there was illegal dumping in the area which was also a cause for concern.

Gonçalves said: “When I went to council last year, an official told me this was caused by herdsmen who throw stones and bricks inside these manholes. He said this will block the manhole drains so that water may come out for the goats to drink. I don’t think that this is possible.”

The RECORD then spoke to herdsman Busang Monehela. He said this statement was false and that domestic animals needed clean water to survive.
“A goat or sheep would die if we were to give it

such filthy water because you don’t know what’s in this water. We only make sure the animals are well-fed and prevent them from going astray,” said Monehela.

Nhlanhla Cebekhulu, CoE spokesperson, said: “Upon inspection, we found the sewer in the veld blocked. We are unblocking it. This was not reported as per our records. Members of the public should report complaints to our Call Centre on 086 054 300 to enable us to attend to it.”