Residents of Robert Sobukwe Street in Samora Machel are appealing to the City of Cape Town to permanently fix the drainage system on that street citing that it gives them problems.
They lambasted the subcontractor that repaired drainage, claiming it did a “shoddy job”.
Resident Nokulunga Ramba said the City tried to fix the problem this year but failed.
“We are living in sewage here. Early this year, the City tried to fix the drain but it didn’t last long, just to burst again. Now, it has been more than three months since the drain burst. Both Robert Sobukwe and Solomon Mahlangu streets are affected,” said Ramba. (“Sewer repairs left unfinished”, City Vision, 22 May).
She stated that all they need is a permanent solution.
A Zimbabwean national, who calls himself Chocolate, and runs a sewing business, said the sewage has badly affected his business. He said few customers come to his shop because of the mess outside the shop.
“It is not affecting my business but my life as well. This dirty water stinks. It is difficult even to come inside where I’m working because the water is stuck just in front of my shack. I don’t know what needs to be done for the sewage to stop flowing,” said Chocolate.
Ward 33 councillor Lungisa Somdaka said the City is in the process of repairing all the collapsed drainage systems. He said he is aware of the drainage problem at Robert Sobukwe Street.
“I can’t tell you what really happened on that drain. I informed the City officials about it. They said they are going to over pump it and put a camera to check the problem. I assumed that maybe the pipe collapsed somewhere,” said Somdaka.
He blamed people who discard foreign objects in the drains for the blockages.
