Residents of Norrie Avenue have called for urgent infrastructure upgrades to address a longstanding sewage problem they say has resulted in repeated overflows, health risks and damage to private properties.
Residents claim the recurring sewer blockages have caused raw sewage to spill onto roads and residential properties for years, despite repeated interventions by the municipality.
Nicole Evans, who has lived in the area for 24 years, said the problem appears to be worsening.
“The municipality arrives, they unblock it and then, within a month, the issue repeats itself. Sometimes the response is quicker, but the issue persists. Residents are extremely frustrated and, even with Ward 36 councillor Heinz De Boer’s intervention, the matter doesn’t seem to be improving. We need an urgent resolution,” she said.
Sagie Govender, a resident of 26 years, said living with the ongoing sewage overflows had become unbearable.
“At times, we can’t bear the stench of raw sewage flowing past the property on the road. Sometimes we can’t even leave our property and walk to the nearby supermarket. With the high rates and taxes we contribute, this is ridiculous,” he said.
Pam Sanson, who has lived in the area for 35 years, said the repeated overflows pose a health risk and have affected her ability to secure tenants for her property.
“The latest sewage overflow on my property has continued for more than eight months. I have never seen or heard of sewage flowing out of a stormwater drain,” she said.
Resident Eben van Niekerk said municipal plumbers had repaired the problem at his property on several occasions, but the solution was only temporary.
“They always come and do a small patch-up job but never actually deal with the cause. It is frustrating, not to mention the health issues. People are embarrassed to have friends and family over because we never know when a river of sewage is going to run down our road. In addition, we have to repair water pipe bursts at our own expense. It feels like we have been pushed to the back of the queue when it comes to maintaining our neighbourhood,” he said.
Ward 36 councillor Heinz De Boer said the road had experienced sewer problems for more than a decade.
“The Norrie Avenue sewer keeps blocking up and spilling onto people’s properties. It has been a constant struggle. Usually there are faeces, tampons and sanitary pads discovered,” he said.
De Boer said a meeting had been held with residents two years ago to discuss conducting a CCTV inspection of the sewer network amid concerns that tree roots may have infiltrated the pipes.
He added that the area, situated at the bottom of Mackeurtan Avenue, also experiences a significant build-up of fat in the sewer system.
“There are many eating establishments nearby and, as a result, everything flows downhill and collects in the Norrie Avenue sewers. This occurs on a weekly basis,” he said.
De Boer also highlighted recurring problems at the nearby Fairways Pump Station, where pumps frequently become blocked.
“We need a proper water and sanitation budget, which can only come after political changes, where sewer pipes can be replaced because you can’t have raw sewage and other debris flowing into the stormwater drain,” he said.
Responding to the concerns, eThekwini Municipality’s Marketing and Communications Director, Mandla Nsele, said the blockage had been cleared and the sewer line was operating normally.
“To minimise the risk of future blockages, regular flushing of the line is conducted as a preventative measure. In addition, the pump station has been repaired and is fully operational,” he said.
