Kensington B resident Bernadette Fischer is feeling uncomfortable in her own home as sewage continues to pour out of a manhole inside her yard.
Raw sewage has been pumping out for over a month, and she is not getting any assistance from Johannesburg Water (JW). The smelly water runs from the manhole through her vegetable garden, into Grey Street, and down all the way to Rhodes Street.
Read more: Church Street leaks fixed, but road not restored
Fischer explained that she has been escalating the issue with JW, but there has been no solution. She explained that it started just after Christmas. The manhole filled up, then, in early January, it began overflowing.
“I phoned JW, and they promised to send somebody out. I waited a week, and nothing happened. The third week, I phoned them. They sent somebody, put down two pipes, and said it was clear. They went to the next-door neighbours and pumped to unblock it. It was gone for one day, but then came back again. It’s now six to seven weeks living with this.”
She suffers from asthma, so, with the sewage coming out not far from her bedroom, she struggles to breathe, not even being able to open her windows. The horrible stench has become a health hazard to her and her dogs.
“It’s close to our bedroom window. It’s a health hazard for my dogs and for the neighbours’ children, because all the neighbours are complaining about it. I’ve been given reference number after reference number after reference number.”
Also read: Calls grow to remove ageing Olivedale water pipe
She added that, to cope with the situation, she has to take double the dosage of her pills.
“I’ve got to make sure I sit way out of the smell. I can’t open my windows in my house in this heat. I have to be on oxygen because of this when I go to sleep at night, which I don’t usually do because I can’t sleep with anything or walk around with anything around my face. I have major breathing problems.”
Fischer is also trying to open a catering business, but cannot proceed with her plans. Her garden is ruined as she can no longer use the food she planted.
“I’m really hoping for help because I can’t anymore. I really can’t. It’s just getting too much for me. I’m up at three o’clock in the morning because the smell is so intense. We pay rates and taxes so that things are sorted.”
@caxtonjoburgnorth Raw sewage pumps out of the manhole inside the property in Kensington B. Video: Mthulisi Lwazi Khuboni #caxtonlocalmedia #Localnews #News #2026 #SA #Community #servicedelivery #Government #johannesburg #Randburg ♬ original sound Caxton Joburg North
Questions were sent to JW, and their response will be published once made available.
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
