Sewerage woes cause health risks to Birch Acres residents

Last week residents of Birch Acres were left to deal with blocked drains and a sewage spill.

The spill occurred on February 18, after heavy rains.

“The sewerage pipes burst on Sunday after the rains and I reported it to the City of Ekurhuleni when I returned home after work,” said resident Philos Mokhare.

“This is the fourth time this has happened and I always report it to the municipality but they take their time to come out.

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“The main drainage system is a problem and it is regularly blocked.”

Mokhare said the state in which residents in the area are living is unpleasant.

“Our toilets do not flush and when they do, the toilets overflow.

“My granddaughter had diarrhoea and we believe it was because of the spillage,” she said.

“I feel like I am living inside a sewer; this is very depressing.

“The smell is so bad we can’t even open the door or the windows.

“Eating with the smell is a feeling that I can’t describe. I work in the health sector this situation is terrible.

“Those in the municipality do not care about anyone. Where does the money that we pay go if we do not get services?”

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Akesa, Mokhare’s son, said the problematic drains are situated at the entrance of the property.

He said the family had to invest their time and money almost every day to clean up toilet paper, excrement and sanitary towels among other things which have been found in the family’s property.

Akesa said the house is always dirty because of the un-avoided steps everyone needed to take to get into the property.

According to Akesa, the family could not use the bathroom.

“The blockage and leaks worsen whenever we use the bathroom.

“We can’t use the toilet at home because when we flush the toilet the waste goes nowhere. When the toilets actually do flush, everything is washed into the property.”

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Akesa added that the family lost one of their dogs as a result of the sewage spill.

Akesa added that the family has felt let down by the municipality on several occasions.

“Officials take their time to attend to a situation. When we call the call centre the sweetest people answer and promise us that someone is on the case.

“We are constantly told that someone will attend to the problem the following morning.

“Every day we are told the same thing, over and over again,” he said.

“It feels as though you actually need to know someone to get help. This world is so corrupt and corruption is incurable like cancer.”

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Akesa said his family would like to see the municipality not only fix the immediate problem but also fix the main cause of the blockages for good.

Mokhare urged fellow residents to not put hand towels, sanitary pads, baby wipes and other items in the drainage system.

The Kempton Express sent an enquiry regarding the matter to the CoE media department on February 22.
Comment was requested by February 26.

At the time of going to print no comment was received.