When Lerato Ntobo moved into his home in Van der Post Avenue, Parkrand, in 2021, he believed he’d found the ideal place to raise his growing family, complete with a yard where his children could play safely.

However, just a year later, that same yard had become a nightmare, repeatedly swamped by raw sewage, leaving Ntobo in constant fear for the health of his young children.

Also Read: WATCH: Lilianton sewage left to flow freely for more than five years now

What began as an occasional nuisance has steadily worsened, with the family saying the municipality has failed to fix the problem despite repeated formal complaints.
Two overflowing manholes in their back garden frequently flood the lawn, at times rising to knee level and threatening to enter the house.

The spills have left human waste, toilet paper and wet wipes scattered across the yard, while stagnant sewage has attracted swarms of flies and other insects.

When Boksburg Advertiser visited the property earlier this month, a strong stench lingered in the air, brown sludge was visible beneath the grass, and sewage had flowed into a nearby wetland.
“It’s absolutely disgusting and dangerous,” said Ntobo, who lives at the property with his wife, two children and a domestic helper.

“At least twice a month, untreated sewage erupts from these manholes. You smell it everywhere, even inside the house.”

The family no longer allows their children to play outside.
“We can’t let them use the backyard anymore. My daughter is particularly vulnerable to infection and suffers from recurring flu-related illnesses,” he said.

According to Ntobo, other residents are also affected, with neighbours reporting the foul smell spreading through the area and repeatedly calling for urgent municipal intervention.

Who is to blame?

According to Ntobo, the problem has been reported to the metro since 2022, but only temporary fixes have been attempted.
“They have occasionally cleared blockages, but nothing lasts. This appears to be an ageing infrastructure that needs upgrading. They’ve had four years to fix it, but no lasting solution has been implemented,” he said.

Suspected causes

According to Ntobo, municipal workers told him that blockages may be caused by items that should not be flushed down drains.
“They said their teams removed fats, oils, and grease from underground pipes, which they believe caused the blockages in the area,” he explained.

The City of Ekurhuleni had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.

Sewage crisis

Similar ongoing spills were reported in several areas including Main Reef Road near the Angelo Hotel and Solomon Road in Lilianton – where rainwaters mixed with sewage from broken manholes continuously flow openly onto roads, green spaces, and wetlands for years now.

Also Read: Residents battle sewage hell