At the time of the incident, the Advertiser reported that the Tommy family was being forced to endure an unbearable odour emanating from a pool of raw sewage that surrounded the house.
During that time raw sewage from the public sewer line, which runs next to the family’s house, started to back up into the property –causing the drains in the property to spew out raw sewage.
The sewage flooded the yard and spilled onto the road, as well as the nearby veld.
The family claimed that, for years, human waste that should be making its way to a treatment plant sometimes turns around and backs up in their property.
According to Themba Gadebe, metro spokesperson, the sewer line downstream was blocked with rocks placed by residents of Ramaphosa.
“It seems the residents are not satisfied that the sewer line crosses their residential area without them having running sanitation and housing,” said Gadebe.
“The stones then wreaked havoc on the city’s sewer pipes and caused the sewer line to clog up.”
The metro described the Reiger Park sewer issue as a social problem and not technical failure of the infrastructure.
To prevent blockages, the metro claimed that its drains are flushed at least twice a year, depending on their programme.
As a result, the sewage backed up and subsequently flooded the home in question.
However, ward councillor Charlie Crawford’s statement contrasts with the statement issued by the municipality.
Crawford said the fault lies at the metro’s sewerage pumping station, and added that the area has been plagued by persistent drainage issues for more than two decades now, because of the dysfunctional municipal underground sewer system, which he said is of poor quality.
He also lamented the municipality’s failure to permanently repair damaged sewers in his locality.
The municipality has since sent its maintenance team to fix the problem.
Repairs have been completed. -@FanieFLK
DISGUSTING! Raw sewage keeps engulfing home
Month-long ordeal over blocked drain finally over
