Umgeni Park residents frustrated over ongoing raw sewage spill
The City was aware of the issue but obtaining a budget is the problem.
TWO years – that’s how long residents of Gardenia Place in Umgeni Park have had to tolerate a sewage spill to which there seems to be no end.
In April last year, Dr Seema Allopi contacted Northglen News, saying that the spill had been ongoing for over a year and that residents had become sick from it.
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She again contacted the publication last week, saying that this health hazard was unacceptable.
“The spill is coming from the houses above us. I – as well as the residents of the complex and the ward councillor – have an endless list of reference numbers for the fault. That’s how many times it’s been reported.
“The City does send plumbers to check, but that’s where it ends. No repairs are done. In the meantime, we are driving over raw sewage, walking over it and taking it into our homes. The children can’t even play outside because of the stench and the health risk it poses,” said Dr Allopi.
Yudeshni Penceliah, resident of Gardenia Park, said she has two young children, one of whom is just four years old.
“She rides her bike through this sludge of raw sewage. It’s absolutely disgusting and revolting. How is it possible that the eThekwini Municipality just won’t fix it?” she said.
“Gardenia Park has continued to report it and escalate it; they come look, say they’ll file a report or notify someone else, but it just never gets fixed. There are always flies,” she added.
Mike Lamont said that although the problem has been reported to the City and the media, the problem persists.
“Several other homeowners have also reported it and have reference numbers. The stench is unbearable which adds to the dilemma,” said Lamont.
Ward councillor for the area Shontel de Boer said the City was aware of the issue and that obtaining a budget was the problem.
“Plumbers will continue to clear the blockage until the broken pipe in the sewer line is fixed. The problem is that cleaning only lasts a few weeks before sewage builds up again. There is no budget to repair the line at this stage,” said de Boer.
The City did not comment at the time of going to press.
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