A Florentia resident’s eight-year battle with a recurring sewage crisis is far from over, despite multiple interventions and assurances from the City of Ekurhuleni.

What was once described as a “resolved” issue has resurfaced, leaving the resident frustrated and questioning the effectiveness of the municipality’s solutions.

Ongoing crisis with no lasting fix

For the past seven years, the resident has been battling a blocked municipal drain outside his home.

Each time the drain clogs, raw sewage is forced into his yard, flooding the property and creating unbearable living conditions.

Although the city has addressed the issue several times, the fixes have proven temporary.

“The problem just keeps coming back,” the resident said.

City blames fat build-up

On February 25, 2025, Alberton Record received a response from City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini, stating that the blockage was caused by fat entering the sewer system from nearby food outlets.

“The matter was attended to. The blockage emanates from fat that is discharged into the sewer pipelines by restaurants or food stores in the area. These establishments need to install fat traps. This will help prevent the recurrence of blockages in the area,” said Dlamini.

The explanation, however, raised concerns among residents, who questioned how a limited number of food outlets in the area could repeatedly cause such severe blockages.

Proposed solution fails to convince

On March 4, 2025, the city visited the property again and provided further explanation, stating that the issue originated “upstream” in the sewer network.

Officials proposed building a structure around the manhole to prevent sewage from flowing into the yard and instead redirect it into the street during blockages.

While the intervention was meant to minimise damage, it did not address the root cause of the recurring problem.

Back to square one

On January 8, the resident experienced yet another sewage overflow, proving that the issue remains unresolved.

Frustrated, he later visited the City of Ekurhuleni offices on March 17, where he met with an official, Patrick Rampa.
According to the resident, the meeting did not bring any solutions.

“I explained that the wall the municipality built around the manhole is not helping,” he said. “The wall is built above the manhole. The pipe that leads to the road is also above the manhole, so the sewage still comes up into my drain. I told them this even before they built the wall, but they didn’t listen.”

He added that he was shocked by the response he received during the meeting.

“I was told I should fix the issue myself,” he said.

Contradictory messaging sparks confusion

The suggestion that the resident should fix the problem himself has raised serious concerns.

Earlier this year, the city issued a stern warning to residents not to repair or tamper with municipal infrastructure. This has left residents confused about what is expected of them.

“How can I be told to fix the issue myself when the city has warned us not to touch municipal infrastructure?” the resident questioned.

Despite repeated visits, explanations, and structural changes made over the past year, the sewage problem continues to disrupt daily life.

Residents say they are tired of temporary fixes and want a permanent solution that addresses the root cause of the blockage.

No response to latest concerns

The Alberton Record has again reached out to the city for comment following the latest incident and the resident’s claims regarding the failed intervention and meeting with officials.

At the time of publication, no response had been received.