Sour scene for resident
Empangeni resident waits over a month for response from municipality about dangerous leaking sewer drain
THE entrance to an Empangeni residence has become an unwelcoming nightmare as a result of a leaking sewer drain left unattended for over a month.
This comes after multiple complaints to the municipality from resident Neil Dunn and his family, who have had to accommodate the horrible stench.
The leak is also a danger to his two young children, who are often curious to explore the area and are susceptible to injuring themselves.
Wires from the automated entrance gate have also been exposed to the leak and were immediately turned off.
After the tragic loss of niece Danielle Lucas, who was electrocuted outside a residential complex in Richards Bay last year, Dunn is well aware of the dangers and fears for his children’s lives.
uMhlathuze Ward 23 Councillor Andre de Lange contacted Kevin Groenewald of the uMhlathuze Municipality who confirmed that he had tried to attend to this problem many times but was unable to access the property to complete the job.
According to Dunn, municipal workers have been to his home to evaluate the problem, but have not contacted him.
‘Every time someone comes to evaluate the problem I am left with multiple different causes and suggested solutions. At first they wanted to divert the pipe, and now they want to cut down the tree, but they have not dug down to the pipe to find the real cause of the leak.’
Last contact with the municipality was made two weeks ago after he was told a contractor was going to assist with the leak and never returned.
The pipe is currently still leaking.
