Streams of raw sewage snake through footpaths, past front doors, and into stormwater drains in parts of Mzamomhle, where residents say they have spent months pleading with the Buffalo City Metro to fix a broken wastewater system that has turned their neighbourhood into a stinking health hazard.
Thousands of residents in the Gonubie settlement — including children, the sick and the elderly — constantly inhale the foul fumes, and endure skin problems from the infested water that seeps into their homes. A resident said it has done so for the past three months.
Residents describe a cycle of temporary fixes and new failures: a manhole unblocked upstream only for another to overflow downstream; a pump that sputters to life for a week before failing again.
Resident Asanda Aleva said: “We are not asking for luxuries — just dignity.
“People are getting skin rashes, there are flies everywhere, and we worry about our children getting sick.
“We have tried our councillor and the mayor’s office, but nothing gets done.
“In some yards, broken toilet connections and cracked backyard lines leak directly into open ground.
“People throw their wipes and rags into toilets, and when they block, we all suffer.
“But the system is old and overloaded, and maintenance is too slow.”
Nosipho Fota, 60, has been living in the informal settlement for more than three decades. She said the raw sewage had caused her asthma and skin rashes.
“It seeps into my shack, and we have to clean with Jeyes Fluid, which is a strong product that makes my asthma worse.”
Residents pointed to several contributing factors, including: Ageing or undersized sewer lines that cannot cope with population growth; Illegal stormwater connections that push rain into the sewerage network; and Broken pumps that take too long to be repaired.
Buyisile Ndamane, a ward committee member, said they had been living under these conditions for “a while now”.
He said they had reported their problems to the ward councillor but the metro’s response had been delayed.
“Officials use excuses like they don’t have free access to certain areas so they are unable to help the community members in any way until they gain access.”
Ndamane revealed that all the residents of Mzamomhle’s B area shared just two communal toilets, and these were frequently blocked.
Nobesiba Goqwana said her home was regularly flooded by sewage.
“This affects me and my family so badly. A few weeks ago my child had terrible flu and a really itchy rash. “We often get these rashes.”
Goqwana says the constant smell, pests, and unhygienic water makes daily life almost impossible.
They struggle to breathe, and cooking and eating were always difficult.
Goqwana said despite contacting councillor Booi Booi Nkalani several times, he never showed up to assess the situation, despite promising to do so.
Nkalani could not be reached for comment.
Cikizwa Sizani, 33, lives in the area with her partner and three-year-old son.
They have had to alter their house to keep the sewage out.
“As you can see, my partner is now busy changing the direction of the door. Evidently the sewage travels around the house and you can see my son is playing there right next to the sewer, that’s our everyday life.”
BCM spokesperson Bongani Fuzile said the primary causes of the overflows had been identified as blockages in sewer lines due to the disposal of inappropriate materials, including solid waste and non-biodegradable items.
“Capacity constraints in sections of the sewer system is one of the factors. “While permanent repairs are under way, Buffalo City acknowledges the frustration and health concerns raised and assures the community that both immediate repairs and long-term upgrades are being pursued with urgency.
“We are committed to restoring safe, functional sanitation infrastructure in the area.
“BCM’s sanitation maintenance teams are constantly deployed in Mzamomhle to clear blockages using high-pressure jetting equipment,” Fuzile said.
Fuzile said the metro had incorporated Mzamomhle’s sewer network into its sanitation infrastructure upgrade programme with plans to replace high-risk sewer line sections and upgrading of manholes.
“BCM has met affected residents through the ward councillor and the area manager’s office. These engagements have taken place in both public meetings and door-to-door visits in severely affected streets.
“Commitments made include immediate deployment of maintenance teams to unblock and repair lines.”
Daily Dispatch
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