Health officials have warned that sewage leaking into the grounds of The Greens, a block of flats behind Pepper Grove Mall, poses a serious health hazard.
Health officials have warned that sewage leaking into the grounds of The Greens, a block of flats behind Pepper Grove Mall, poses a serious health hazard.
Remax property agent Gwyneth Trafford said on Wednesday a municipal health official had visited the flats and warned that the leak was a serious health hazard.
For two weeks residents of The Greens, a block of flats behind Pepper Grove Mall, have been forced to use an alternative entrance as sewage floods their grounds.
ReMax agent Gwyneth Trafford, who manages the block, said the sewage was leaking from a manhole at the property’s New Street entrance.
“The sewage comes out of the manhole and runs along the driveway, spreading all around the place,” said Trafford.
“It has been like this every single day for two weeks now.”
She said some of the buildings in New Street do not have proper grease traps for their drains, which then leak into The Greens.
She said certain shops had received letters notifying them of their obligation and a municipal health inspector had inspected the property on Wednesday.
According to his report, Trafford said, he red-flagged the leak as a serious health hazard that needs attention.
The Greens resident Leah Gharbarharan, a Rhodes student, described the situation as inconvenient.
“The sewage overflow has on occasion been so bad we avoid the exit it affects. Using the other exit is inconvenient, but preferable to having to walk through sewage,” Gharbarharan said.
“In my experience, the sewage overflow occurs for no apparent reason,” she said.
Ward Councillor Brian Jackson visited the flats on Monday.
He said he was not sure what was being done about the situation and referred queries to Municipal Manager Pravine Naidoo.
