Soshanguve sewage woes continue

Residents of Soshanguve, Block L Extension, have once again raised complaints over the unresolved sewage leaks that compromise their health and living conditions.

They are complaining that the issue started in June, and have made the Tshwane metro aware of the sewage blockages, but to date, this matter remains unresolved.

The blockages are hindering travel on Dintlhaga Street.

One of the residents, Itumeleng Tshangwani, said this issue is affecting their health and compromising hygiene.

“We cannot open our windows for fresh air because of the smell. I have developed sinus problems due to the stench, as it is unbearable. It also affects the health of the children and my mother, who are constantly getting sick. The environment has now become unfit to live in,” Tshangwani said.

He said Tshwane officials would come to take pictures and promise to return, but no permanent solution was provided.

“We have even tried several plumbers, and they all say the problem requires action from the municipality. On top of that, we still have to pay our bills at the end of the month, yet we receive limited services. The problem clearly starts from the two full municipal manholes in the yard,” he said.

Tshangwani’s neighbour, Nduna Masuku, who is also affected by the sewerage problem, expressed how the stench from the sewage is affecting their daily lives and well-being.

“It has been six weeks since I first reported the blockage, but to date, no permanent solution has been provided by our municipality. Every morning before I go to work, I have to clean the mess from the sewage, but it makes no difference.”

Masuku said the sewage comes out from the two municipal manholes in the yard.

“I cannot drive my car out of the garage because the sewage is everywhere in the yard. I even tried pouring sand in front of my house to control it. The municipality once brought a sewage suction truck, but after two weeks, the same problem returned, and now it’s worse than before,” he said.

This comes after the metro told Rekord earlier in August that the ongoing sewer blockages in the area are predominantly due to a collapsed section of the 400mm concrete collector pipe, which passes under the Soshanguve Magistrate’s Court.

According to the metro, the collector pipe is affecting more than 1 000 households discharging sewage into that system. Some houses are more affected than others, because they are located at the lower point on the slope.

Recently, metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said it has been working tirelessly to resolve the situation without a permanent solution.

“The regional maintenance team has been attending to the blockage by using a jetting truck and pumping out the affected manholes with a super sucker to relieve the system of the load. However, due to the amount of sewage flowing into those manholes, this has not provided a lasting solution,” Mashigo said.

He said the two municipal manholes in Tshangwani’s yard are currently blocked, as there is no flow downstream due to the collapsed pipeline.

He added that the metro is expediting the replacement process to address the challenge.

Previously, residents have relayed their frustration over the ongoing sewer blockage and called on the metro for permanent resolutions.

“This issue has been persistent since 2001. It comes and goes. Recently, it returned just before the school holidays in June, and it has worsened because the sewage is now flowing onto the streets,” said Lesego Malefane.

“We have been reporting this since then, but the issue remains unresolved.”

Malefane added that the overflowing sewage has affected their daily living, complaining, “I can’t go outside, and it is affecting my business as well because I can’t drive my car through the sewage. Another problem is that whenever we use the bathroom, the waste comes out of the sewer.”

Another resident, Caroline Molakeng, said, “Mine started on July 25. For the past few days, I have been unable to go outside because the sewage is everywhere”.

Ward 35 councillor Kholofelo Mashapa said, “This thing has been ongoing for a very long time before I stepped in as a councillor. It started from a resident’s backyard.”

Mashapa said after becoming aware of the situation, he went to examine the blockage on July 27.

He emphasised the challenges faced by the residents. “It’s a problem because the bigger issue that I am concerned about is the residents’ health.

“If they cannot be helped, Tshwane must suggest an alternative for the time being, because people cannot live under such conditions for many days.”

He said he has escalated the matter to the metro’s department of water and sanitation, and he has also included the sewer line plan in his integrated development plan.

Despite the situation remaining unchanged at the moment, the metro did not provide a specific timeframe for when it will permanently resolve the issues.

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