Newlands East residents are outraged over a severely damaged sewerage pipe that overflows with faeces. The damaged pipe has not been repaired for months which has resulted in an unbearable stink and health hazard to the community in Galjoen Road.
The sewer line in Galjoen Road, is located close to a stream and was damaged and washed away following the heavy flooding and torrential rains in April. The road collapsed leading to it being closed for public use. The overflowing effluent has seriously polluted the stream.
Frustrated residents are calling on the eThekwini Municipality to repair the sewer line and the damaged road, both of which have been like that since the floods. Newlands East is among several areas that has yet to be rehabilitated.
Graeme Clarivette, the ward 11 councillor said the roads department closed-off Galjoen Road as the foundation was not steady. “The road is not safe for anyone to use,” he said. However, residents who live close to Galjoen Road said this was a huge inconvenience for them as they use longer alternative routes to get to work and back home.
Clarivette said that he sent several emails to the municipality, sanitation department and to the mayor’s office requesting that the repairs get done.
“We desperately need the road and sewerage pipe to be repaired as it is on the main entrance of Ferndale Primary School. We have been waiting since April. There has been no resolution after numerous requests to the sanitation department.The sewerage coming from the pipe runs into the stream and has killed all the aquatic life. The smell is horrendous. Galjoen Road is one of the access roads to the horseshoe community, its closure affects traffic severely,” he said.
Resident, Vincent Grimett said the stink is terrible. “The pipe is located close to the school gate and learners have to deal with the unbearable smell daily. Our ward councillor has tried his best to get the relevant departments to have this problem sorted out. I do not understand why it is taking the municipality and sanitation department so long to have the pipe and road fixed.
“There is raw sewer flowing into the stream where the burst pipe is located. This is a health risk for the young children at the school, educators and residents living close-by,” he said.
Ferndale Primary School principal, Zakithi Msani said the closure of the road inconveniences parents and drivers dropping-off learners at the school.
“Due to the road closure, drivers are now unable to drop off learners at the school gate. Learners have to walk to the gate. The stench coming from the broken sewerage pipe is horrible. This is a health risk for all of us at the school.
“Our school toilet system is also affected by the burst pipe. Our toilets get flooded and paying plumbers to fix it at additional cost to the school. We have been spending a lot of money on plumbers to fix our toilet system. We are appealing to the relevant authorities to have the pipe and road repaired,” said Msani.
Musawakhe Mayisela, eThekwini Municipality spokesperson, said: “The City is aware of the different roads in need of repair following the devastating floods. Multiple site inspections have been conducted in this regard on all affected sites since the April floods. We would like to assure residents that all damaged roads will be repaired in due course. We ask that residents are patient with us. We apologise for the inconvenience.”
