Since Motherwell NU30 was established in 2017, its residents have been battling with a blocked drain that has flooded a busy intersection leading to a nearby creche with raw sewage.
The sewage in the middle of Sinagogo and Sakhomba streets has been a recurring issue for years, causing difficulties for residents and posing a potential health hazard for children.
Mason Phumelele Mehlo, 45, who informed Metro Matters of the situation, said he moved to the area in 2018 and the drain was already blocked and overflowing with sewage.
He said with the recent strong rains, the problem had escalated.
“It’s almost four years now we are faced with this problem, and not only the drain but service delivery.
“The only time we see a municipal bakkie is when it’s attending a faulty electricity cable — other than that we do everything ourselves,” he said.
On Monday afternoon, the stench-ridden pool of sludge which had developed had blocked access to parts of the road, making it near impossible for cars to pass.
Another resident, Nosiphiwo Lugodlo, 35, said when they started Little Bright Stars creche in 2019 there was no grass and the road was clear for pedestrians and motorists to pass.
“I am exhausted, I don’t know how many times we tried to get assistance with cleaning this.
“The children always suffer from skin rash and it becomes worse in summer with a terrible stench,” she said.
Lugodlo said residents had on several occasions tried to clean up the sewage but became discouraged due to its constant flow.
“There was a time where they told us that the problem was from a drain on another street, that it would get fixed and the flow would stop from ours,” she said.
Frustrated Sixolile Daweti, 26, said every time they phoned the municipality they were told a team would make its way there, but they never did.
“We have a serious problem, especially with young children who now play in the sewage — often times I had to be on the lookout as one got stuck before,” he said.
“I don’t know, maybe it’s because this sewage doesn’t affect them [politicians] in their suburban homes.
“How will I ever even want to vote again if every day when I leave my home, the first thing from the gate is smelly, overflowing sewage.
“We can’t live like this. When it rains this becomes worse — we can’t forever be praying it doesn’t rain; meanwhile there is a way to resolve the issue.”
Nelson Mandela Bay municipal spokesperson Mthubanzi Mniki said a superintendent who went on site found that the problem was linked to the pump station in the area being down for various reasons, such as electrical failure, vandalism at the station and load-shedding.
He said the department was working on a sustainable solution for the station.
HeraldLIVE
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