Tshwane metro finally attends to overflowing sewage
Frequent blockages are caused by people disposing of foreign objects that are not biodegradable into the sanitation drainage systems.
The Tshwane metro has dispatched a team to investigate the cause of the frequent sewer blockages in Mahube Valley, Mamelodi.
This follows complaints from a family that was stuck in the house for almost four weeks because sewage was flooding the yard leaving no passageway out.
The metro repairmen had been to the property before but left without fixing the problem because they didn’t have a jetting machine to pump the excrement out of the manhole to get to the blockage.
Dorah Mgijimi (53), the owner of the house, claimed she reported the problem to Mamelodi municipal offices about four weeks ago, metro workers came and tried to unblock the overflowing sewage, but it was overflowing again.
“I immediately reported it again as soon as it started overflowing, only to be told the problem emanated from a main pipe which is located in Tsamaya road, and they needed a jetting machine to unblock,” said Mgijimi.
She said this was not the first time her yard had been flooded.
Metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba said this is a recurring blockage.
He said frequent blockages of the sewer line were a result of clients disposing of nonbiodegradable foreign objects into sanitation drainage systems.
“Vandalism of manhole covers causing large particles like stones to enter the sewer line,” said Bokaba.
He said the current team is doing a spot repair on Tsamaya Road to remove solids and relieve the sewer line.
The repairs should be completed by the end of this week.
Mgijimi said in 2018, four houses were flooded for almost a week.
“We have pleaded with the metro to remove the sewer in my yard but have failed to,” said Mgijimi.
She said her and her neighbours’ furniture was damaged, and the metro promised to compensate them.
“Our health is at risk. We are worried that we and our children will get sick from inhaling the bad smell from the blocked sewer,” said Mgijimi.
Her neighbours are forced to keep their windows and doors closed.
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