EVANDER – Turning to the Human Rights Commission seems to be his only option to force the Govan Mbeki Municipality to tackle the sewage problem in his yard.
Col John Malupi bought a house in Sorbonne Street several years ago, but the constant build up and flooding of raw sewage into his backyard has him fuming.
“The municipal sewer line and manhole are inside my backyard. Lack of maintenance by the municipality is causing this to often overflow,” explained Col Malupi.
The sewer line is now overflowing regularly and then the Malupi’s backyard is flooded. The mess has become so bad, that the soil is now sodden with sewage.
An overflowing municipal sewer line is regularly flooding the backyard of Col John Malupi.
The rising sewage pushes up against the back door that leads to the kitchen.
“The stench is unbearable. We cannot cook or clean here, and we dare not let our kids go outside to play.”
As with any stinking mess, flies are buzzing about in hordes.
“How can anyone be expected to live like this?”
Col Malupi has repeatedly complained to Govan Mbeki Municipality.
“It is their sewer line, so they need to maintain it,” he said.
According to Col Malupi the municipality unblocked the drain immediately in the past, but the sewer spills have now become an almost regular occurrence and it takes the municipal workers longer and longer to respond.
Mr Bheki Kubheka, municipal spokesman, said the recent incident of sewage overflowing was because the sewer line was blocked by foreign objects which were deposited into the drain. The blockage has been removed.
When asked why this flooding is happening so often, Mr Kubheka said:
“Overflows always occur as and when foreign objects cannot flow gravitationally in the sewer line. These objects can be dumped anywhere from upstream of the blocked area.”
Mr Kubheka said the municipality will repair the problem by getting the vacuum truck to flush the line and remove all sludge and debris.
“We are also planning to conduct awareness among the community not to dump foreign objects into the sewer lines,” said Mr Kubheka.
Also read:
https://www.citizen.co.za/ridge-times/123473/ggm-is-one-of-the-worst-performing-municipalities-in-the-province/
