A Joza resident who lives on Vellem Street, believed to be Mbulelo Jali, has his neighbours up in arms with the
human waste he continually throws down an open drain or leaves in buckets on his lawn.
Limise Futa, who lives opposite Jali says, “This situation is so bad because of the smell, and the flies that are always around.
A Joza resident who lives on Vellem Street, believed to be Mbulelo Jali, has his neighbours up in arms with the
human waste he continually throws down an open drain or leaves in buckets on his lawn.
Limise Futa, who lives opposite Jali says, “This situation is so bad because of the smell, and the flies that are always around.
But the worst is just seeing that mess lying on the drain and in buckets just lying there in front of our house,” said Futa.
Vellem Street resident, Noluntu Madolwana said that Jali informed her that a part of his toilet had been stolen. “I advised him to report this to the [ward]councillor, which he has not.”
Another resident, Aaron Melitafa said, “He relieves himself in his yard right in front of us. This can’t be healthy, especially for children,” he said.
Futa said that this has been going on for a while, but has recently become worse. They even had to put up a fence to separate the two houses in order to protect her children from being exposed to the waste.
She has children who are under the age of four who are constantly ill and she can’t help laying the blame on the unhealthy living conditions.
Grocott’s Mail was unable to speak to Jali (who goes by the name of Botsotso) after attempting numerous times.
ANC councillor Nomhle Gaga said that she, together with the environmental officers and community development workers, visited Jali’s home where they spoke to him.
“It was resolved that he should use the neighbour’s toilet until he gets a new one.” She said that she gathered information from the community that Jali had sold his toilet as well as indicating that the municipality would be reluctant to replace it.
She added that an imbizo was held in Joza last week where the matter was not raised. Rhodes University Safety, Health and Environmental Officer, Nikki Köhly said that it was problematic for human waste to be lying around.
She said faeces from animals such as cows could not affect us as they are not of our species. Human waste, however, contains many pathogens: bacteria that cause infectious diseases spread by flies that carry the bacteria on their feet.
Makana Municipality spokesperson Thandy Matebese said that there is nothing the municipality can do since the toilet was tampered with and the matter can only be followed up by the police.
The engineering department reported that the toilet was not functional because of a missing cistern tank, not because of a fault.
