Burst sewer pipe spews human waste into houses
ALEXANDRA – Residents of 9th Avenue between Rev Sam Buti and Richard Baloyi streets have been blocked from leaving and entering their homes by a pool of sewage in the street from a burst pipe.
Several people in a section of 9th Avenue, between Sam Buti and Richard Baloyi streets in Alex, have been denied access into their homes due to sewage blocking the street and passageways.
The sewage, which has turned into a pool and in some instances has seeped into homes, has trapped some elderly and children in their homes. Those able to get out and go to school and work are forced to scale over roofs and walls doing so at the risk of falling into the sewage, further endangering their health.
Also, the electric wires in some of the homes are affected, posing a danger to residents from electrocution. An affected resident, Lerato Kekana said when she returned after a short errand, the sewage level had increased blocking the entrance into her home.
She said the sewage was from a blocked pipe which was reported about two weeks ago. “Council contracted workers who attended to it on 7 September, but seemingly failed to complete the work as the sewage is back and more forceful this time around,” she said.
“Spaza shops on the street have been forced to close and people have to walk long distances to get across the pool.”
Other residents, wearing gumboots, are forced to wade through the sewage to get into their homes but all are concerned about sleeping in their homes, for fear of drowning.
Kekana said the affected homes are in a valley, which also floods during the rainy season, leaving them in fear whenever it rains. “We are very desperate for alternative accommodation which has not materialised after many years of broken promises,” she added.
Another resident, Sipho Ndlovu, said they tried to unblock nearby drains as a means to drain the sewage but it seemed they too were blocked. “Council ought to dedicate more time if this problem is to be resolved permanently,” Ndlovu said.
Moshe Mphahlele, an EFF candidate councillor in last month’s local government election said it was worrying that residents, in particular the elderly and children, were left to live in faeces for almost two weeks.
Johannesburg Water’s Tidimalo Chuene said the problem needed to be logged first as a query after which it will be attended to.
Read: Come and join the Buti walk
Tell us if you have been affected by posting on our timeline, Alex News or tweeting @AlexNewsZA You can also add us on Whatsapp for the latest news by adding 079 4395 345 to your contact list and just send your name to us so we can save your number. Click here to find out more about our Whatsapp policy.
