Hooggenoeg residents face severe sewage problems as over full septic tanks spill over causing human waste to overrun onto the streets and into some people’s homes.
Hooggenoeg residents face severe sewage problems as over full septic tanks spill over causing human waste to overrun onto the streets and into some people’s homes.
Despite numerous complaints to the municipality, there has been no action on their part. The municipality has not issued commented on this matter.
Sindi Douglas, a resident who lives in 11th Avenue, says her toilet has been overflowing for weeks and she believes exposure to the raw sewage is making her family sick.
The problem started at the beginning of July, when the Douglas family's toilet began to flood.
"I reported the matter to the municipality immediately, and they promised to send people to come and fix this mess here, which they never did," Sindi said.
Since then, she said, she and her husband Nicholas had reported the matter numerous times.
"Every time my husband or I go to town, we report it to the municipality. They just write it on a piece of paper – and you will never hear from them again."
Health Risk
On 8 August, a municipal truck came to remove waste from a septic tank across the road but to the family’s dismay, the situation became worse.
"The water that is coming out of my toilet is from the nearby houses that are on the higher side of this area.
"Every time they flush their toilets, the water carrying their waste comes out of my toilet," he said.
Sindi’s tap which is beside the toilet is constantly surrounded with dirty water. It is this very tap which the family use to get drinking water.
"I have a five-year-old grandchild who has been to the doctor two times since this problem had started. I believe my grandchild got sick from this dirt.
"This municipality does not care about us. How can people live like this?"
Some residents are forced to use their neighbour’s toilet which is inconvenient for both parties.
Nicholas also said it had become difficult for him to park his car in the yard, because of the mud caused by the sewage leak.
A few meters from the Douglas’s, on the corner of 6th and 7th Avenue, human waste floats out of an overflowing drain.
Nomfuneko Kondile, who lives in 6th Avenue, said the drain has been overflowing for more than a year and this had been reported to the municipality more than once.
"We cannot even open our windows when it is hot, because of the smell that comes from there and we are worried that our kids might get sick," said Kondile.
