A 67-year-old Thokoza Gardens pensioner says she fears for her health as she continues living with overflowing sewage outside her home for more than three weeks after reporting the problem.

Emely Motaung, who lives at 8847 Tshele Street, said the sewage has left her home surrounded by foul-smelling wastewater, making it difficult to move around her property, and it is affecting her health.

“I am getting sick because of this sewage. We cannot continue living like this. I have reported the problem many times, but nothing has changed,” she said.

According to the family, the sewage overflow has been reported several times at both the Thokoza Customer Care Centre and the Alberton Swartkoppies Customer Care Centre. The matter was also escalated through emails to municipal officials, including the Office of the Executive Mayor.

The family said the sewage poses a serious health risk, creates unbearable living conditions and threatens to damage the property.

Motaung, a pensioner, has continued paying her municipal account despite the ongoing problem and believes residents who pay for services deserve prompt assistance.

Her family has appealed to the City of Ekurhuleni to urgently repair the sewer infrastructure and restore safe living conditions.

The Alberton Record emailed the City of Ekurhuleni’s media office on July 24 at 09:07, requesting comment on why the matter has remained unresolved for more than three weeks, what has caused the delay in resolving the complaint, when repairs will be carried out and whether the sewage overflow is the result of a blockage in the municipality’s main sewer line or on the resident’s property.

Their response will be published once received.