- The United Reformed Church in Silversands is dealing with a burst sewer pipe that has caused sewage to spill onto its premises for weeks, forcing the cancellation of several church services and programs.
- Despite contacting city authorities, repairs have been delayed, leaving congregants frustrated by the overwhelming stench.
- The city has now promised urgent action to fix the broken pipe.
The congregation of the United Reformed Church in Silversands is at its wits end because of a sewerage spill that has been causing a stench for weeks.
Coming from a burst sewerage pipe in a nearby housing complex, it has affected many of the church’s programmes. The youth service, the elder’s programme and even prayer meetings have had to be cancelled because sewage flowed freely onto the church premises.
George Jason, spokesperson for the church, said church personnel had gone from pillar to post to get help. “Our church cannot operate in this way,” he said. “Congregants do not want to attend services because of the stench. It is not even a leak on our side, but we must suffer. It is an unhealthy situation.”
READ | United Reformed Church in Silversands to wait two more years for action from City of Cape Town
TygerBurger sent a request for comment on 20 September to the City of Cape Town on why the problem has not been sorted out and had to wait weeks for the following answer from Mayco Member for Water and Sanitation Zahid Badroodien. “After an investigation the City’s water and sanitation maintenance team found there was a broken sewer pipe outside the church,” he said.
“The contractor will soon repair the sewer pipe with urgency.”
Jason said the church will wait and see if the promise is kept.
“It is a place of worship and when people cannot worship in peace they stay away. That is not what we want.”
