Abahlali Struggle as Sewage Crisis Worsens

FLOWING sewage makes residents’ lives miserable.

A strong stench comes from overflowing sewage in Mlungisi township in Komani, Eastern Cape and residents can smell a strong odour from trenches directing the sewage into Komani River.

In 2023, a grade 12 pupil fell in the sewage trench and died on the scene.

Residents said they’re tired of breathing in the sewage.

One of the residents, Nomathamsanqa Mgwigwi complained about their living conditions. She said she lives with her mum and a child who is always sick.

“When I take the child for medical attention, I’m constantly asked where we live because my child has an infection. I tell the doctors that we live close to running sewage and I am told it is the main cause of the infections my child is getting,” said Nomathamsanqa.

She said it pains her that she has to live with the smell of sewage after she lost her son to a sewage trench.

“My son, Lindokuhle sank in a sewage trench. We can’t sleep at night because of the smell from the sewage. There are also mosquitos which come from the sewage,” said Nomathamsanqa.

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Another resident, Maki Dlongodlongo said: “We have to keep our doors closed throughout the day because of the smell. It’s sometimes difficult to even eat when the smell comes this way. Children have a rash, which I think is caused by the sewage.

“The place where the sewage runs used to be cleaned a while back, but it hasn’t been cleaned for a long time. We want the district municipality to clean this sewage because it has a negative impact on our lives. We live an unhealthy life.”

Chris Hani municipal spokeswoman Bulelwa Ganyaza said the district municipality is experiencing recurring sewer blockages and spillages due to old infrastructure and foreign material deposited into the system as well as a system overload due to population growth and developments within the Komani area.

She said the district municipality applied for funding which has already been received for the refurbishment of the pump station and gravity pipeline to ensure the recurring spillages are dealt with.

“A service provider has already been appointed in this regard,” said Ganyaza.

Enoch Mgijima municipal spokesman Lonwabo Kowa said the municipality has worked on a street in the area several times and it gets damaged by the effects of the sewage spillage.