Raw sewage has destroyed the quality of life and the business of a Virginia resident.
“I have been living in the worst conditions, which have now affected my only source of income and, now recently, the quality of my life. I am a resident of ward 9, a ward well known for paying its rates and taxes to a municipality that has come to fail us over and over again throughout the years,” says Maggey Mokhoetsi, owner of Boitumelo Daycare.
Mokhoetsi says she used to operate and run a successful daycare centre, with parents entrusting their children to her from 06:00 to 18:00.
“I had clients who used to entrust me with their children over weekends when they needed to travel for business. This is no longer the case.”
She says the problems started when a manhole in her yard became blocked.
“I reported the issue, no help came. Then the street behind me started experiencing horrible sewerage blockages and all five manholes were blocked, with raw sewage spilling into the street.”
Mokhoetsi says this has caused the whole plumbing system in the yard to breakdown.
When we flush the inside toilet, raw sewage spills out of the outside drains. We have made a makeshift tunnel going into the street so the sewage has somewhere to go. Before this, my whole yard was constantly covered.
Maggey Mokhoetsi, owner of Boitumelo Daycare
“When we flush the inside toilet, raw sewage spills out of the outside drains. We have made a makeshift tunnel going into the street so the sewage has somewhere to go. Before this, my whole yard was constantly covered.”
She says the situation has become so bad that the outside toilet used for the daycare has had to be permanently shut off.
“The sewage spills from there, runs into the yard and the children have nowhere to play, rest, or do outside activities.”
The daycare has suffered severely, with Mokhoetsi having lost 90% of the children she used to care for.
No-one should be subjected to live under such inhumane conditions, let alone children with lungs still developing. I cannot open windows to let any fresh air in, as there is no fresh air. I cannot have people over to entertain and I cannot enjoy a few hours in the sun because I cannot breathe the air. My own family no longer visits. I have become a recluse. It cannot go on in this manner.
Maggey Mokhoetsi, owner of Boitumelo Daycare
“I successfully operated this business for over 20 years, yet I found myself closing its doors because of sewerage problems.
“No-one should be subjected to live under such inhumane conditions, let alone children with lungs still developing. I cannot open windows to let any fresh air in, as there is no fresh air. I cannot have people over to entertain and I cannot enjoy a few hours in the sun because I cannot breathe the air. My own family no longer visits. I have become a recluse. It cannot go on in this manner.”
The issue was reported to the local municipality on a number of occasions, and escalated to the mayor’s office. Mokhoetsi says in May this year, Thanduxolo Khalipha promised to get back to her, but nothing has come from this.
“We understand he has a full plate and this is why we gave him two months to allow some processes, but no steps have been taken.”
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