Sewage spills spark fear of cholera in eMbalenhle
Blind resident says their living condition is a health hazard and against the family’s constitutional rights.
The Simelane family in Ext 26, eMbalenhle, fears contracting cholera from the sewage spill that flows into their house. According to Vusi Simelane, who is blind, this has been their living condition for the last several years.
Simelane said the problem eases whenever the family reports the spill to their ward councillor, Bafana Mthembu, and the Govan Mbeki Municipality.
“When they unblock the drain, the problem is better, but only for a few days. Then it begins again. I struggle to walk, and the children have sinusitis and a rash. I believe it is because of the spills,” he said.
The Simelanes are fearful after hearing about a cholera outbreak in Gauteng.
“The councillor told me the cause of the sewage spill is the pipes are too small. The situation will not change unless the municipality replaces these pipes.
“We are living with a health hazard which violates our constitutional right to live in a safe and healthy environment,” she said.
Simelane is also afraid that their house might collapse because of the spills.
Donald Green, the acting communications manager for the municipality, said they did not know about the Simelane family’s sewage problem.
Green said as soon as they get the stand number, municipal workers will attend to the problem.
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He said the resident can also visit the eMbalenhle municipal offices on Fono Sibiya Drive, call the call centre on 0800 6000 01/2/4 or send a WhatsApp message to 083 790 0659.
“Rubble and foreign objects in the system cause blockages. We urge residents to adopt healthy and hygienic ways of waste disposal.”
Green said improper waste disposal creates environmental hazards, such as infectious diseases, land and water pollution and obstruction of drains.
“The municipality is taking precautionary measures amid cholera cases in the country. Our water is clean with no bacteria identified in it thus far,” said Green.
