River of sewage runs in Bryanston

BRYANSTON – Two rivers in Bryanston met last week, but one did not contain water.

In open land between the N1 Highway, Jacaranda Avenue and Cedar Street, resident Louis Moll reported on 2 July that sewage was coming out of a manhole and flowing downhill through a man-made trench that he believes was dug to divert it away from the highway.

The sewage ended in Ferndale Spruit about 1km away.

Upon investigation on 3 July, the sewage had stopped flowing, but the trench (about 60cm wide and up to about 15cm high) was evidently full of sewage.

The trench wound its way through land where about 15 vagrants live, and ended close to Ferndale Spruit.

But following the direction of the trench, evidence that sewage passed underground and into Ferndale Spruit was apparent.

One vagrant said that the sewage was a problem for his health but another said it was not a problem at all.

The former had seen men, who were not wearing uniforms, use a tractor loader backhoe (TLB) to dig the trench on 30 June.

Johannesburg Water spokesperson Millicent Kabwe said that she would investigate the incident, but if the people who diverted the sewage were not wearing the entity’s uniform, they did not work for the entity.

Ward 104 councillor Mike Wood and Bryanfern Resident’s Association chairperson Ian Leo expressed dissatisfaction at the leak, and said that Johannesburg Water must resolve the issue.

“I am shocked at this,” Wood said.

“That water [from Ferndale Spruit] goes back into our water supply. We’re a water scarce city and cannot afford to pollute our water.”

He added that he will follow up with an official at the entity’s sewage department.