STENCH and sewage spillage in Braamfischerville extension 4, Soweto remains unresolved and it poses a health hazard for residents.
The residents told Daily Sun that the forever blocked system makes the area uninhabitable.
They said they wrote a petition to the City of Joburg to urgently fix the consistently blocked system as it spills into their homes and streets.
Resident Conny Mudau said the problem is caused by lack of service delivery and they have had this problem for more than 10 years.
“Water pipes always burst, and they don’t get fixed and when they are repaired, they burst again in no time,” said Connie.
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“At the moment our streets are filled with hazardous sewage waste, foul smell (stench) and potholes. That is is detrimental to the health of children and makes the residents sick and the place uninhabitable,” she said.
Connie showed the SunTeam a house that had to be rebuilt as their brick wall had collapsed, allegedly due to spillage.
An elderly woman, Malefu Maema, who makes a living by selling alcohol said she can no longer keep her customers in her yard due to the overflow.
“Business is not running as usual. How can people want to drink in a spot where they will be smelling sewage? It’s been more than two weeks facing this problem,” she said
The communications team in the office of Environment and Infrastructure Services MMC Jack Sekwaila, told Daily Sun that the MMC is aware of the blockage in Bramfischerville, but they aren't aware of the petition sent to their department.
“We have been having a recurring blockage in this area. Last Thursday, the blockage was reported and a team was sent to the area to clear the blockage. The blockage occurred again on the weekend. Again, the team was sent to clear the blockage. Unfortunately, they couldn’t clear it manually,” the team said.
The team said for a long-term solution, Joburg Water sent surveyors to do a top-survey and the surveyor has compiled a scope of work which proposed the replacement of an 8km pipe.
“The scope was approved, and the design of the work will be ready on 30 September 2023. But the environmental authorisation will take six months,” they said.
