Forced to embrace human filth

Crossing the little bridge at Toopans Drift in Darnall, one is slapped in the face by a powerful stench of human effluent that makes you sick to your stomach.

Heavily polluted water trickles down this Nonoti River feeder stream against the backdrop of the buzzing of hundreds of flies embracing the filth.

It is believed that the sewerage system in Zamani township is overloaded and the resulting overflow escapes down the little stream that runs past Toopans Temple, a popular place of Murugan worship.

“This has been going on for five years now and the sewage sometimes flows over the bridge,” said Suresh Moodley who is one of the worshippers at the temple and a member of the local community.

Moodley said Toopans Temple was preparing to receive 3000 festival goers on April 22 and the stench was embarrassing.

He said before it became polluted, children used to swim in the stream and crabs and small fish were plentiful.

Moodley said Ilembe municipality workers regularly cleared the space under the bridge when it became blocked but a permanent solution is yet to be found.

The Ilembe District municipality said they were aware of the problem and confirmed that it was caused by ageing infrastructure. They said the infrastructure would be upgraded as part of the district’s pipe replacement project.

The project has already started in the KwaDukuza CBD and other areas and is included in next year’s budget.

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