Persistent sewage spills continue unabated in a Vredekloof street where residents have locked horns with the City of Cape Town for years over lasting solutions that are not forthcoming.
With massive sewage spills every three months or less, Willem Malherbe fears that his property in Plataan Street has become unhabitable due to health hazards.
His property and that of his neighbour’s are situated at the lowest sewerage inspection point in the Vredekloof sewerage line running through his backyard.
He has reported the spills to the City in ongoing correspondence since 2017, and after yet another major spill a few weeks ago, he is now at his wits end.
Malherbe says these spills started in 2010 and can continue for days on end during which high volumes of raw sewage is dumped into his backyard.
“Whenever there is a blockage in the line, it spills out into my backyard and dams up to about half a metre. It also seeps through to my neighbour’s property, straight into her garage and front door,” he says.
Neighbour Jenny Roberts says the stink around her house when this happens is revolting.
“My elderly mother can’t step outside, my children can’t play outside and even our pets are trapped inside the house,” she says.
The City’s health department in 2020 declared Malherbe’s property and that of his next door neighbour’s a public health hazard.
In a report to City officials the City’ health inspector wrote: “It is evident that the problem with sewage spillage persists. This is the second spillage in one week and is causing severe distress to the complainant as well as the next door neighbour where the raw sewage are flowing into her front door. This is a serious health concern that needs a more thorough investigation and remedial action – I would suggest that the entire main sewage line be inspected to establish what causes the blockages and spillage,” he stated.
