Eden Mews resident calls for permanent solution as sewage problem continues

Mercia Scheepers of Predistined2Help NPO, who previously raised concerns about recurring blockages, said the situation around Block 9 and Block 4 is worsening.

“They really need to give us a permanent solution. This is not acceptable,” said Scheepers.

City spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the municipality attends to blockages when it receives complaints, particularly formal ones.

“We attend to the blockages as and when there is a complaint, especially a formal one,” said Dlamini.

He said the recurring blockages are mainly caused by foreign objects being discharged into the sewer system.

“Mainly this is caused by foreign objects that are constantly discharged into the system,” he said.

Dlamini said the city’s preventative approach includes ongoing community awareness.

“Awareness is always conducted, and it will continue to make the community aware of the negative impact on putting foreign objects in the sewer line,” he said.

The city did not provide a specific timeframe for a permanent infrastructure solution to the recurring blockages.

Not accepting conditions as normal

Resident says sewage is becoming ‘a norm’

Scheepers said the recurring sewage has become part of daily life for children living at the flats.

“Now it is becoming a norm and a lifestyle for our kids to live in sewage. We just see flies,” she said.
She said residents should not be expected to accept the conditions as normal.

“I won’t accept this abnormality and make it normal. This is a major health risk,” said Scheepers.

Sewage affects food distribution

Scheepers said the conditions are also affecting her work through Predistined2Help, which provides food to children.

She said she recently distributed noodles, mageu and biscuits, but the sewage made both delivery and distribution difficult.

“Yesterday I gave out my noodles, mageu and biscuits. When the delivery came, it was a mission. When I distributed it was also a mission because we had to try and dodge the sewage,” she said.

Scheepers said the food was packaged and sealed, but she remains concerned about distributing food in an area affected by sewage.

City says it attends to environmental hazards

The city was also asked about concerns that sewage and wastewater could pose health and hygiene risks to residents and children living in the flats.

Dlamini said the municipality would continue attending to the main sewer line.

“The city will continue to attend to the main sewer line to prevent environmental hazards,” he said.

The municipality was also asked about concerns that waste and dirty water may be left behind after drainage repairs.

Dlamini said municipal teams clean the affected areas after repairs.

“We do clean by spraying water and the use of hard brooms on hard surfaces or a pavement,” he said.

‘Two days is the longest’

Scheepers said the sewage returns frequently after municipal teams attend to the problem.

“They come out almost every week or every second week. Two days is the longest that the sewage doesn’t run,” she said.

Dlamini said the city attends to drainage problems “as and when required”, provided the problem is on the municipal system and not the customer’s responsibility.

“We attend to such problems as and when required as long as it is on our system and not the customer’s responsibility,” he said.

Resident plans formal complaint

Scheepers said she no longer regularly reports the problem to the municipality and plans to escalate the matter formally to the Water and Sanitation department.

“To tell you the truth, I don’t even call them anymore. I’m gonna write a formal letter to Water and Sanitation,” she said.

She said residents should not have to live with recurring sewage problems.

“We are human beings. This can’t continue,” said Scheepers.

UPDATE: City blames foreign objects for recurring Eden Mews drain blockages