Leaks and stench: Sport Street’s stinking nightmare

Residents of Sport Street are battling with a constant underground water leak and an on-and-off foul-smelling sewage leak, with the situation worsening during heavy rains.

The residents suspect a nearby company that is allegedly using their manhole pipe to offload their waste, and are not sure where the water leak is originating from.

According to Zee Bruinders, a resident where the manhole drain is located, the street has been nicknamed “Kaak Street” due to the constant sewage and smell that lingers in the air.3

Also read: Davidsonville park affected by acid mine drainage – JCPZ

“During heavy rains, the sewerage becomes worse and can run for two to three weeks before it becomes better. We have called on the City of Joburg and Johannesburg Water (JW) to come investigate, and the feedback we get is that the drain has been unblocked, but weeks later, it happens again,” Bruinders said.

“This is a health issue that needs to be addressed. I slipped and fell hard, and injured my head and arm. My son also says he always falls there,” he said, adding that he can’t access his driveway anymore.

Portia Mahlaba, another resident, said the smell gets so bad that they cannot even open windows.

“The constant underground water leak has created potholes, and we can’t even get into our yards.”

The Roodepoort Record approached JW and the spokesperson for the entity, Nombuso Shabalala, said a team attended to the overflowing manhole on April 26, unblocked it, and did the necessary site cleaning.

However, she did not answer questions related to the origin of the sewage and the constant underground water leak. A detailed update will be done once received.