30 years of sewage
The sewage problem in Maud Street has, over the past 30 years, gotten progressively worse, and Johannesburg Water seems unable to do anything about it.
Residents in Maud Street are fed up with the continual flooding of their homes with raw sewage.
According to Yaseen Hersie, this problem has been ongoing for the past 30 years since he bought his house.
“I have taken every measure imaginable over the years,” he says. “Nothing works. Every time we experience high rainfall, the sewage pushes up into the drains of our homes.”
Hersie has, over the years, invested a lot of money into trying to stem the flow of sewage into his home, but with limited success.
“In addition to the work I have done to my property, we have had innumerable engagements with Johannesburg Water.
“They would come out, unblock the sewerage drains, only for them to block up again a week or two later.
“Eventually, they appointed a contractor to install a whole new drainage system, which was a complete mess. It turns out the man was not even qualified to do the job.
“Last year, they appointed someone to come and fix the mess, and lo and behold, the same contractor shows up.”
Hersie says the problem is now worse than ever.
“Every time it rains, the sewage starts pushing up into our drains, sometimes to the point of overflowing into our properties. I’m at the point now where I just want to sell and move on.”
Kabir Yacoob, who bought his house three years ago, adds that had he known about the problem beforehand, he never would have bought in this area.
“We have, in three years, over and above spending a lot of money to try and safeguard our homes, been sent from pillar to post by Johannesburg Water. Still, the problem persists and it seems like there simply is no will from the entity to address the problems.”
Florida South Residents Association chairperson Rodney Churchyard, who has engaged with Johannesburg Water on behalf of the residents of Maud Street numerous times, adds that the contractor appointed to fix the problem just caused more problems.
“In addition to spending hundreds of thousands of rands on an ineffective new drainage system, he also broke the boundary wall of one of the properties, leaving a dangerous wall that could collapse at any minute.
“We have tried in vain many times to get this problem fixed once and for all, but nothing is being done.”
The Roodepoort Record sent questions to Johannesburg Water’s communications officer Nolwazi Dhlamini, who said the enquiry has been forwarded to the relevant department, and that answers will be shared as soon as received.
