Three-month stink: Lower Illovo residents appeal for help
Lower Illovo residents are fed up with a raw sewage outfall problem that has persisted for months and is causing health concerns.
THERE has been no joy for Lower Illovo residents who have been battling with a raw sewage outfall that has worsened since it was reported in June.
Also read: Urgent plea: Lower Illovo residents speak out on sewage woes
The SUN met with resident, Pastor Kuben Govender, who shared around two dozen reference numbers logged with eThekwini Municipality for the problem. Ever present in the air around Lower Illovo is the smell of sewage.
A small stink river has formed behind Govender’s home. His neighbour, Rani Pillay, cannot even access her backyard and windows have remained shut for the past three months.
“Again, they are false reporting that the fault is resolved and we as residents are following up only to be told that our problem is solved when the stench here still lingers. The Municipality is well aware of the problem of excessive sewer overflow here. It is beyond living conditions and is a health hazard. We are getting headaches, nausea and vomiting. Worse still, Lower Illovo Primary School is right behind my home and the issue is affecting children as well,” said Govender.
He added that residents cannot be expected to live in such conditions and plans to do his homework on how to take the matter up legally, as rates are paid, but service delivery is lacking.
When eThekwini Municipality was initially approached for comment, with reference to reports logged by residents, media relations officer Rhulani Baloyi explained that the City is collating the information. The SUN has since requested an update on the matter, however, no response has been received at the time of publishing.
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