City doesn’t seem to care

More than 250 people live in squalor in an informal settlement in Pomona with the City of Ekurhuleni just looking on.

According to ward councillor André du Plessis, the informal settlement on the corner of Elgin and Constantia roads was created by the City of Ekurhuleni seven years ago.

“This is a council-created informal settlement, which was as a result of the upgrade of Elgin Road in Pomona more than seven years ago. These residents were previously living within the road reserve of Elgin Road and were supposed to have been relocated within two years after the construction of Elgin Road. That is now seven years ago,” he said.

Du Plessis visited the site in November and requested urgent feedback from the municipality. To date he has not received any answers.

All the toilets and washbasins are non-functional, there is a stench of sewage, with a mixture of grey water and sewage flowing into the wetland directly next to this informal settlement. This wetland water flows through to Serengeti and beyond to Tshwane.

“The unhygienic living conditions for these residents have now reached unacceptable proportions and the urgent intervention of all the relevant departments is required without delay.

“The residents are forced to use two semi-functional, leaking, broken toilets, with one semi-functional washbasin with two taps for water. They also have no access to any electricity,” said Du Plessis.

The City did not reply to Kempton Express’ questions.