South Coast residents are fuming, and calling on the eThekwini Municipality to take action by resolving the issue of the constant sewage spills, particularly in the Umkomaas region, which they allege has been ongoing for years due to dilapidated infrastructure.
The residents supported by Ward 99 councillor, Bob Daniels, recently called out the municipality for ignoring the issue and their complaints at a full council meeting, where the matters was addressed. Daniels held little back at the meeting where he heavily criticised the poor planning from the municipality and called for immediate solutions.
He said: “The streams, rivers and beaches are polluted with raw sewage on a daily basis and no-one from the ruling party seems to care enough to address this mess. In the past months constant outcries from rightfully concerned residents to the Water and Sanitation Department of eThekwini have fallen on deaf ears.”
His call for action was supported by Bertie Strydom, a South Coast resident, who said: “What’s new? We have been subjected to this for years and nothing has happened. The municipality, including the Ugu District Municipality, have been ignoring our cries for years. If it is not the dry taps, it’s the raw sewage running into the nearby river streams.” A fisherman who has been heavily affected by the situation said that with the constant sewage spills it became hard to make a living. “The sewage going into the river and seas is horrific. The smell travels, right from the beach to local businesses nearby like a tackle shop and liquor store. As a pensioner, and fisherman who lives off the sea, it’s not pleasant and the fishing has been slack as a result. We are equally subjected to poor beach facilities which are severely dilapidated and invites unsavory characters to do what they like to facilities,” Perumal Govender said.
Govender said: “Whenever they do fix the sewage pipes, it stops for a little but breaks again. What kind of workmanship is that? Why can’t it be fixed correctly and maintained?”
Daniels said that, ideally, all should have access to dignified sanitation facilities and uninterrupted ablution service delivery, especially during the current pandemic. Raw sewerage spills from Umkomaas to Malundi township flowing through streams via Roseneath Gardens, Newhaven Township and Craigieburn into the Amahlongha River eventually land up in Umkomaas beaches.
However, Msawakhe Mayisale, eThekwini Municipality spokesperson, said: “The problems associated with grey water in Malundi is not related to Wastewater Network as there is no sewer reticulation system in Malundi township, to a large extent that community uses chemical toilets and some are using conservancy and septic tanks.” Daniels said that educating informal communities who largely contribute to sewage contamination, due to insufficient ablution facilities and no maintenance on existing systems, should be a priority for eThekwini. The municipality does however have several resources, programmes and educational guides on sewage contamination.
However, Mayisela said: “We will investigate the cause of the issue being reported by residents. In areas such as these we have come across similar cases that were caused by spillages from septic tanks and such.This would have to be addressed with the concerned parties. We are urging residents to approach the City to assist them with the clearing of septic tanks as these can cause health hazards.”
