The City of Tshwane says a damaged pipeline in Moreleta Park must be reconstructed to end a long-standing sewer crisis affecting residents of Meadow Heights estate.

Residents in Mala Mala Crescent and Manyeleti Street say they have endured an eight-year municipal sewer crisis that is destroying properties and posing health hazards.

Persistent spills from a damaged underground main line flood yards and gardens, worsening during heavy rains when properties flood more than twice a week.

Independent camera inspections commissioned by property owners and an April structural engineer’s report established that the municipal sewerage pipes are broken and collapsed.

Homeowners claim the city failed in the engineering design of the main line, leaving it vulnerable to damage.

They claim tree roots damaged the underground sewerage line, forcing sewage into homes and backing up into bathrooms and kitchens.

Estate manager Hester Venter-Wallace said four properties are severely affected, with sewage flowing down Mala Mala Crescent to Manyeleti Street and contaminating the entire area, preventing residents from walking freely or walking their dogs.

Venter-Wallace claimed property owners hired private contractors who traced the collapsed line to municipal infrastructure, but residents could not proceed without proper authorisation and funding, alleging that city water and sanitation officials offered only an interim solution of cleaning streets after flooding.

“At some point the department refused to send a water truck to clean the streets and they then resorted to using residents’ water to clean but no disinfection of the streets, they clean with water only,” Venter-Wallace alleged.

Resident Joggie Sayman said municipal by-laws prevent residents from taking action while they await city repairs which he purported were first promised for July, postponed to August, and then moved to November.

“The tender was issued at first to get a contractor to fix the issue, then later cancelled before repair work could even start,” Saayman claimed.

Saayman paid more than R4 000 for an independent camera inspection after spillages escalated from monthly to weekly occurrences.

Saayman said he might consider legal action against the metro for allegedly neglecting the issue and failing to escalate it through the regional water and sanitation department.

Metro response

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the team will, in the meantime, endeavour to resolve sewer blockages in the area as and when they are reported.

“The maintenance team conducted an inspection on the said property and it was established that a sewerage pipeline got damaged by a private jetting truck that was contracted by the estate to clear a sewer blockage.”

He said the city is putting measures in place to repair the damaged section of pipe.

“The city is confident that once the pipeline has been reconstructed, the sewage issue in the area will be resolved,” Mashigo said.

He said residents are encouraged to refrain from disposing of solid waste into the sewer system to minimise the recurrence of blockages and prevent persistent sewer overflows.

”The city is not aware of a tender that was cancelled in the said estate. However, plans are underway to repair the damaged section of pipe.”

Mashigo denied claims that Tshwane teams use residents’ own water to clear spillages from streets.

”The city does not use water from residents’ private properties to clear sewer sediments from streets. Instead, water is sourced from fire hydrants for cleaning purposes.”

He said the metro prioritises sewer blockages as and when they are reported and undertakes the necessary clean-up operations in accordance with strict health and safety protocols.

”These measures are aimed at minimising risks to public health and preventing potential contamination of water resources.”

He said the city is prioritising repairs to the damaged section of the pipeline to avoid further deterioration.

The metro denied claims of poor engineering design of the sewerage line.

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