Pensioners are living in sewage as drainage crisis drags in Selection Park

A resident of Selection Park has raised concerns over her home’s faulty drainage system, which has left her yard flooded with sewage, posing a serious health risk.

Rowena Bishop explained they have experienced this issue since they moved to Springs nine years ago.

“About three or four times a year, the sewage comes out of the drain. Initially, the municipality told us it was our problem and that our pipes were blocked. So, we dug up and installed new piping and another outlet, but it didn’t help.

“We have been asking the council to help resolve this.

“On August 11, the municipality was doing work at some houses down the street, and our drain started bubbling and making noises. Within half an hour, the sewage the sewage had already overflowed,” she said.

Bishop said the odour is unbearable and has been causing health issues for her family and pets.

“It smells terrible, even worse at night; we can smell it from our main bedroom. My pets get sick. The sewage reaches my plants and trees.”

She added that the ways they have tried to fix the problem have been futile, including opening a hole in the wall to let the water escape.

“My husband and I don’t have the means to hire people privately to clean up. We are pensioners. We need the municipality to take responsibility and do their jobs by cleaning the drains properly. No one deserves to live in these conditions,” she said.

An enquiry sent to the City of Ekurhuleni did not yield any response by the time of publication.