Certain residents of lower Illovo have become accustomed to the insufferable stench of sewage and a swarm of flies, but, these residents have taken a stand now. They demand that these problems are dealt with in a timely manner. For years, residents have been forced to endure streams of sewage running through their yards and despite contacting eThekwini Municipality numerous times, they feel as though their plight is falling on deaf ears.
“The problem has been ongoing for several years. Getting through to the municipality is a problem on its own,” said the spokesperson of the neighbourhood, Meloney Muthsami, who has lived in the area for most of her life. We are always told that the pump house is a problem, but nothing is being done. Living in this state is terrible. We are forced to keep our doors and windows closed at all times. The sewage attracts flies and mosquitoes and it’s unbearable. We cannot even have our supper in peace due to the awful smell. It is disgusting and embarrassing. My husband has recently picked up a chest infection due to the harmful sewage fumes.”
Muthsami was forced to create a path, at her own cost, to divert the stream of sewage from flooding her yard.
“We contacted the municipality numerous times. We cannot be living like this. When the area was run by the sugar mill, we never had these types of problems. The municipality is making this situation even worse. It’s just a matter of time for the whole area to become engulfed in sewage. We are desperate for the problem to be resolved.”
Another resident, Terence Sathiah, said that the problem is resolved for about a week and then reappears the next week. He worries that the force of the sewage will cause a rupture in his yard. A comment from eThekwini Municipality was not made available at the time of publication.
ALSO READ: Amanzimtoti river heavily polluted with raw sewage, plastic and litter
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