WATCH: Eden Mews tenants raise alarm over recurring sewage blockages
Residents say overflowing drains expose children to raw sewage, while repeated municipal repairs provide only temporary relief.
Recurring blocked drains at the Eden Mews flats in Eden Park are creating an unhealthy environment for children, with raw sewage overflowing near living areas.
Mercia Scheepers, a resident who runs the Predestined2Help NPO from the complex, said the issue involves two connected drains that repeatedly block each other. Her organisation provides meals to about 150 children from the flats every Wednesday.
Municipal repairs offer short relief
Scheepers said municipal workers clear the blockages when reported, but the repairs are short-lived.
“When they come and fix it, it will maybe work for a few days and then it blocks again,” she said.
According to Scheepers, clearing one drain frequently causes the other to block, creating a continuous cycle. She suspects an underlying pipe defect is causing the failure.
@albertonrecord Recurring blocked drains at the Eden Mews flats in Eden Park are creating an unhealthy environment for children, with raw sewage overflowing near living areas. Full story on albertonrecord.co.za
During a recent visit to the site, one drain was found blocked shortly after the other had been cleared.
Health risks for children
Wastewater was flowing alongside the flats during the visit, leaving toilet paper and waste around the recently cleared drain.
Scheepers expressed concern because she prepares food for local children on the property. She said the persistent drainage problem is unacceptable and requires a thorough investigation rather than temporary fixes.
She added that children living at the complex play near the affected area and face direct exposure to running sewage.
“They come here and they play, and they are exposed to this,” she said.
Residents forced to clean up after municipal work
Scheepers also criticised the condition of the area following municipal interventions, stating that workers clear the blockages but leave waste and dirty water behind, forcing residents to clean the area themselves.
Security and illegal dumping exacerbate complex issues
The drainage failure is not the only problem affecting the property. Scheepers highlighted an unfenced section of the complex that permits public access.
She said the open space has turned into an illegal dumping ground. Although the municipality previously instructed residents to monitor the area, Scheepers noted that enforcement is impossible without a perimeter fence.
She added that youths gather in the open area to smoke illegal substances, contributing to wider social issues in the community.
Calls for a permanent solution
Scheepers said residents have repeatedly logged complaints and want municipal officials to investigate the root cause of the blockages, arguing that the municipality is failing residents by allowing the situation to continue.
The Alberton Record requested comment from the City of Ekurhuleni regarding the blockages, pipe conditions, post-repair clean-up standards, long-term remedies, and illegal dumping.
