In Nomzamo’s very uneven terrain winter rains are forming extensive water pools, which are not proving good for the retention dam or retention pond adjacent to ACJ Phakade Primary School.
It has become a stagnant settling place for rubbish and various materials, blocking drainage following the rains and causing parts of the road to flood. The water also reeks of sewage.
In June 2021, officials from various departments of the City of Cape Town met at the school for a site visit at the retention dam, following ongoing water retention problems. This resulted in frequent flooding and overflowing sewage on the street, also affecting squatters who had settled on vacant land near the retention dam in a land-grab (“School cesspool concerns”, DistrictMail, 3 June 2021).
Mhlaba Mhlaba, who owns the local Ntsika spaza shop around the corner from the school, claimed the overflowing retention dam is resulting in him losing business.
“Locals from the area literally can’t access my shop due to the road being flooded. They use other routes and this means they visit other spaza shops to do business,” he said.
With heavy rains, the stairs to his shop are filled with water, and this means no-one can access his shop, whether for business or to buy products, he pointed out. “The smell is also unbearable, especially when it’s a sunny day,” Mhlaba added.
A local resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, is one of the illegal squatters living close to the retention pond. “I have no other place to live,” he pointed out. “This is my home.”
Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee member for Water and Sanitation, confirmed the City has planned to rehabilitate the pond. “This, however, depends on relocating those who have illegally occupied the land. Many residents have cited socio-economic reasons for occupying the pond,” he explained.
Malusi Booi, Mayoral Committee member for Human Settlements, said the City had advised people not to settle in areas unsuitable for human habitation. “This occupied site is in a low-lying area and not suitable for human habitation. [This] is a clear indication of the impacts of unlawful occupation,” he related.
“Most illegal occupations in the metro over the past year have occurred on land not suitable for human habitation, such as flood-prone wetlands, low-lying areas and even water retention ponds or on the slopes of loose, sandy nature-reserve land set to be eroded by wind and rain.”
Booi said the Informal Settlements Management Department is conducting assessments in the area.
“The City is looking at feasible options available and will further engage with the relevant group of people to find a way forward.”
