Sewage issue remains an inconvience in Mohadin

For over two years, Sello Seitlholo and his family from Haffejee Street in Mohadin have had to learn to live with the continuous sewage issue in their area.
Since the family moved into their home in 2019, they quickly had to accept that the major sewage leak in their yard would become a monthly occurrence. “This issue has been going on for as long as I can remember,” Sello said. “Every month, without fail, the sewage line in my yard bursts and it is always a mission to get the municipality to repair it.”
According to him, the sewage line that has been causing the problems is in his yard. “I am still not sure what the cause is. Every now and again, the municipality comes to unblock the line but the issue is never re- solved nor an explanation given for the problem,” he continued.
Sello says the first time the issue occurred, he took it upon himself to have the matter inspected, not knowing that it would be a recurring problem. “I called in private plumbers to resolve the issue. To my surprise, I was told the issue was caused by a municipal line but I was still liable to pay a call-out fee.

“Municipal workers are aware of our issue. Every Tuesday, they are here to collect the garbage but it always has to be a struggle to get them to fix this issue,” Sello said. “They were even here earlier today (23 November) but the sewage is still flowing.”
According to Sello, sewage leaks have become a massive problem in his area. “In extreme cases, the sewage leaks into the families’ homes. We honestly cannot live like this,” he said.
To reduce the damage the sewage causes, Sello has had to create an area between the paving and the grass. “I had no choice. I kept trying to grow my garden but the sewage was always a problem. I even had to destroy a perfectly-good pavement because the water would get blocked by the grass growing around it.”

The frustrated homeowner says it usually takes three to four days for the municipality to bring the over-flowing sewage under control. He says his family has been greatly inconvenienced by the unbearable smell and having to use their own resources to rectify the issue. “I have a five-year-old who is at a stage in his life where he is inquisitive and likes to play outside. But, due to the sewage, I have had to limit his movement outside.
“As a tax-paying citizen, I find this extremely unfair. This is a municipal competency and they should take responsibility for it,” he said angrily. The Herald asked the municipality for comment but none was forth- coming in time for print.