Blocked sewer drain environment problem at Melgisedek
It is no longer about just the homeless who live there, the problem has an impact on the whole environment.
Melgisedek complex in Riviera was once a safe and environmentally-friendly haven for hundreds of homeless people in the area.
About five weeks ago, gallons of raw sewage at a manhole started flooding down Annie Botha Drive.
Theo Labuschagne of the Melgisedek community outreach programme said that he has reported the issue numerous times to Tshwane metro since the blockage started to pile up.
“Over 600 homeless people have been without any toilet facilities since,” he said.
“It is no longer about just the homeless who live there, but the problem has an impact on the whole environment, especially with the amount of rain we had. You can imagine the stench with all the sewage accumulating in one place,” said Labuschagne.
The community set up a container for the homeless about two years ago.
“The members who form part of the outreach project jumped in to renovate the complex themselves and removed 80 tons of rubbish,” he said.
Labuschagne said the project focused on the well-being of the people in that area.
“We are discouraged from asking for assistance and nothings seems to be done about it. I will continue to report the issue until it is resolved,” he said.
Project manager Dr Martin Buck of Steve Biko academic hospital said community outreach projects were launched there weekly, to care for the needy.
“We regularly raise funds to help the children of the Melgisedek with school funds in particular, but for the most part, we focus on the well-being of the people.
“The residents are living in appalling conditions,” he said, adding he was concerned about environmental health threats such as pollution, cholera and tuberculosis.
“This sewer provides a favourable opportunity for diseases to break out. There’s a lot of talk, but little is done on issues like this sewer,” he said.
“How should those people, who do not even have the basic privilege of toilet facilities, function?
“It’s a huge disaster and we are at a loss with the feedback we’re getting from the metro,” said Buck.
Wayne Helfrich, proportional representative of the DA in Capital Park, said that they were aware of the “great headache” residents were facing.
“The department is busy developing an actual plan to look after the problem. If organisations are struggling to come up with solutions, any queries can be directed to me,” Helfrich said.
“The problems in the area, especially now with the sewage, present great challenges. The DA is doing everything in its power to put out fires and as we receive feedback, we will keep the parties involved informed,” he said.
At the time of going to press, the metro had not yet responded to inquiries regarding the sewer blockage.
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