Residents grapple with health hazards caused by leaking drains

Opening windows or leaving his doors ajar at his house has become a nightmare for Dawie Mullins from Bryan Brook Estate in Paulshof.
He said this was due to a recently fixed drain that had been overflowing from the Brecknock (Ginger Farm) informal settlement on Main Road.

“We are faced with a pressing environmental issue that has significantly affected many of the residents. Our community has been grappling with the repercussions of the overflowing drain for quite some time,” said Mullins.

He said the issue reached a critical point when ‘black water’ began to flow into the river that runs between their estate and St Peter’s Prep School.

“The stench became unbearable, preventing residents from opening windows or doors, despite numerous reports to Joburg Water [JW] with reference number 8006250249.

“It wasn’t until Wednesday, 24 January that a team was dispatched to address the drainage problem.”

Unfortunately, the relief was short-lived as the foul odour soon returned.

“Only with the arrival of the recent storm did the remnants of the drainage issue finally wash away. However, the aftermath has left our community grappling with additional challenges. These are particularly concerning pest infestations, rats, cockroaches, and flies have increased, causing distress among residents who cannot leave sliding doors open without rodents entering their homes.”
There were more issues that Mullins wished to address.
“Our compounding woes is the proximity of the squatter camp which has become a breeding ground for these pests… our quality of life in the estate has been severely impacted, with residents feeling trapped in their own homes due to the combination of environmental hazards and health concerns.
“We believe that shedding light on our predicament will not only bring attention to the challenges we face but also encourage authorities to take prompt and effective action to address the root causes.”
Ward 93 councillor Vinno Reddy said, “Residents of Lonehill East complained for weeks from early January about the issue but JW could not pinpoint the source. This was reported numerous times to JW who cannot act if a location isn’t provided. During this period, Mullins, nor any of the residents of Bryanbrook, complained about anything. They all know me and how to contact me. It was only resolved when a resident Shannon Botes, emailed me and I was able to pinpoint the source.”
He added the environmental issues were genuine.
“The residents of Bryanbrook know the reality of the city’s stance on Ginger Farm, that it’s considered a land invasion and the property owner is responsible for securing his property as well as providing services for the people on his land. It is private property and the owner is absent and has seemingly absolved himself of responsibility.”

Related articles: Residents do work the municipality should be doing