A recent site visit by the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien, highlighted the sewage issues experienced by residents who live in the Robyn Island Informal Settlement in Nomzamo, Strand.
The site visit, which took place last Wednesday (6 September), came two months after a peaceful protest on Friday 30 June to call attention to blocked drains, overflown roads and a sewage stench in the air that plagues residents and business owners alike (“Residents protest sewage spills,” DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 5 July). Mxolisi, Joel, Simon and Selven Streets are the worst-affected with water damming up in the streets, causing a monumental, overwhelming stench. Community members often resort to filling tyres with rocks and larger stones, and strategically place bricks to help be able to navigate through the piled-up dams of sewage in Nomzamo, especially close to ACJ Phakade Primary School.
Subcouncil 8 chairperson Councillor Chantal Cerfontein mentioned that the site inspection was aimed at identifying the shacks that needed to be moved so the pond can be opened up.
“Our aim was to identify the shacks that needed to be moved to open up the pond in order for the water to flow which is the cause of the major blockage of drains and overflows in the area,” said Cerfontein.
Badroodien confirmed that the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate will draft a communication plan in consultation with the Human Settlements and Urban Waste Management Directorate to address the concerns raised. “This includes engaging with the community leadership, ward committees and impacted residents regarding the structures that need to be removed/relocated. The objective is to ensure effective communication via appropriate channels to ensure the impacted communities are involved and understand the importance of the process in relation to their health as well as the environmental conditions. They will also be informed how and when the process will commence.”
Cerfontein added that while it is unfortunate that there are no alternative places to relocate the affected residents to, they are glad to know that the residents are willing to join forces with the City for the betterment of the broader community.
“I also urge communities to help us help them keep their neighbourhoods clean,” said Cerfontein.
