Four months of raw sewage on Durban road
Overflowing manholes have forced motorists and taxis to take longer routes
Raw sewage from three overflowing manholes on a main road in Siyanda A, near KwaMashu, has been creating large pools for over four months. Residents have repeatedly reported this issue to the municipality but have seen little progress. The constant exposure to the smell forces them to keep doors and windows shut, and some are using rocks as stepping stones to cross the road.
The health concerns for children are a major worry, as they may come into contact with the contaminated water. Ntombifuthi Nxumalo noted the presence of numerous flies during the summer. Mhlaba Mkhize mentioned that motorists and taxis must take a longer route to avoid the sewage. Zinhle Ntombela explained that they are unable to use the entrance to their yard and have to use their neighbor's gate instead.
Despite reporting the issue to the municipality and the ward councillor, municipal workers come out only to have the problem reoccur shortly after. Luthando Ngubane, a spokesperson for EThekwini municipality, stated that the residents often do not keep reference numbers after logging a complaint, making it difficult to track the issue.
Written by urgent.news from GroundUp's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
