As the nation battles to curb the Covid-19 spread, residents of Sicelo Mhlauli Street in Samora Machel are fearing for worst.
They claim that over the last two months they have been grappling with unbearable sewerage smell emanating from a blocked drain.
Resident Athenkosi Fumba said she is concerned about their lives. She said their problems started in October last year, and due to the blockage the water spillage has turned green.
“Since October last year the sewage got stuck here. It is not from our street, but comes from the storm drain at Ruth First Street and flows all the away to our street. The City employees came on several times to fix the storm drain, but after few days it burst again.”
She said what makes things worse is that the storm water drain that is on their street is blocked.
“We requested the City employees to open it so that the sewage can go through but they refused cited that they are only dealing with storm drain,” said Fumba, who added that some of her neighbours had put bricks down to cross the dirty water.
Another resident, Victor Mwembe, who lives in Ruth First Street echoed Fumba’s sentiments, saying lives are in danger because of the contaminated air being inhaled.
“I’m thinking of moving out of the house I’m renting here because of the stench that comes from the storm drain,” he said. “Every day we breathing the same dirty air. We ended up putting old tyres around the storm drain so that the motorists can see it.”
Mwembe said ever since he started living there three years ago the storm drain was always bursting.
“I think the City employees are tired of coming here, because a mere month after they have fixed it it starts again,” he pointed out. “Maybe the City needs to change the whole system, replace it with a new one.”
Ward 33 councillor Sithembiso Mzobe said he was aware of the drain burst in Samora, and that he had had discussions with the City officials about.
“The issue here is the blockage of pump station in the area. We need to change the sand trap and put the bigger one so that it can be able to work. We are hoping that by the mid of February we will be able to change it because we are waiting for funds from the City,” said Mzobe.
