Akasia industrial park turns into sewage swamp
The spill is health risk and cause of the fly infestation in the area.
Residents of and workers at Klerksoord Industrial in Akasia are outraged after the metro failed to fix overflowing and blocked sewerage for several weeks.
For the past nine weeks, sewage on Diamant and Ivory Street has been flowing behind homes, all over the road and office buildings.
Some residents said the area has now turned into a sewage swap, with human waste all over.
The residents raised concerns about health and environmental hazards.
An employee at OakleyGroup said they have to endure a terrible smell daily and can’t get fresh air.
“The smell is unbearable, we can’t open windows and our parking is flooded,” Inge Vos said.
Whenever the wind blows, the stench gets worse.
Vos said she has reported the blockage to the Tshwane metro numerous times, “for weeks but to no avail”.
She said despite the health issue there was now a fly infestation in the area too.
“They enter our homes, where they are not only a terrible pest but also a danger as they leave germs all over.”
Vos said she is concerned about the water network being contaminated.
“Our clean water might get germs from the spillages and we will be the next Hammanskraal with a cholera outbreak.”
The sewage is now run into the approximately 2 hectares of veld below the road.
Iwan Venter, another resident, said he was more worried about the sewage running into the stormwater channel.
Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the complaint has now been escalated to the city’s roads and stormwater department.
“It will assist with clearing the overgrown vegetation along the stormwater channel to access the manholes,” said Mashigo.
He said the sewerage overflow is caused by blocked manholes along the stormwater channel behind Klerksoord industries.
He couldn’t tell when the metro wrap up repairs.
“Due to the extent of the intricate work that needs to be carried out along the sewer line, the work might take longer.”
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