Three residents of Rainbow Road in Mount Moriah claim that sewage water is seeping underneath their homes, destroying their houses and causing a health hazard.
Simphiwe Magwaza, 22, one of the affected residents claimed that sewage water flows from the hilltop behind their houses, into their yards and is destroying their homes. “The problem started about four to five years ago when the municipality removed a sewage pipe. A huge pipe used to be at the back but now there is no pipe. The water is coming from the top area to the back, into our yards and under our homes. We had to make a drain for the water to flow from the back onto the road. The walls of our houses are getting cracked and our houses are moving away from the foundation. The water is seeping through the cracks into the houses. There is a bad smell in the air and mosquitos breed in the water during summer. Children play in the area and are getting sick,” she said.
The homeowners are calling on the municipality to install a proper sewage system so that the water stops flowing, and to clean and dry the place.
Yanum Arumugam community activist in ward 110 said that the flowing sewage water is a health hazard. “We need to find the root of the problem. I would like to see the area being cleaned up and the water stopped. We don’t know how much damage has been done to the houses yet as the water has been seeping underneath for some time now. Residents are unable to cut the grass or maintain the area. The residents are throwing dirt in the area to stop the water. It is unfair to the children who play there.“
EThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson Mandla Nsele responded as follows: “Thank you for bringing the matter our attention, please note that a team will be sent to investigate.”
