A burst sewerage pipe has forced a Grahamstown family to keep their doors and windows closed throughout the festive season.
A burst sewerage pipe has forced a Grahamstown family to keep their doors and windows closed throughout the festive season.
Fezeka Ntsendwana, who lives in Rhoyi Street, Tantyi, said the problem started in the first week of December and that she had immediately reported it to Makana Municipality.
She showed Grocott's Mail the pipe between her house and her neighbour’s.
"I first reported it at the engineering department,” Ntsendwana said. They told me it was not their department’s responsibility to fix it.
"I progressed to the water and sanitation department and eventually they came to check on the problem.
"They didn't give me a proper answer about what they were going to do, though. They just left.
"I thought they would come back, but days passed and I went to report the matter again.
She said they’d told her the pipe was coming from Nondzube Street and if they shut it off, people from that area would suffer.
"They cleaned out the pipe and to tried to fix it. But straight after they left, the leak started again," said Ntsendwana.
“I reported it again, but when they came, they spoke to my brother on the street and told him they would come back in January.
"Again it wasn’t clear what they were planning to do. My worry now was my kids’ health, because the sewage passes right next to the bedroom window and past the front door," said Ntsendwana.
She said she when she went to the municipality again, she was told to come back on 4 January 2016.
Ntsendwana said she had not been able to open her doors and windows since the first week of December.
"All that smell comes in. I have kids here – just imagine that.
"I try to explain to them not to go out, but kids are kids they do go out and play.
"It’s summer now and the sun becomes very hot. Imagine that sewage smell on a hot day.
"I don't know what to do now. I have tried everything, but the municipality failed to help me," said Ntsendwana.
Makana Municipality water and sanitation manager Ntombi Tshicilela said a team had been sent to fix the pipe on 23 December.
"If sewage is spilling again, then that is something new,” Tshicilela said.
“On 22 December we were there to check on the problem and the following day we sent our team to attend to the matter.
"We had an agreement that we would meet again with Ntsendwana to sort out everything on 4 January when we return to work.
"There is also an encroachment matter there and that is one of the things we said we would sort out when we open next year," said Tshicilela.
