A pipe burst, causing water and sewage to spill into homes and roads at Overcome Heights informal settlement leaving residents feeling helpless after their pleas for help from the City were allegedly ignored for three weeks.
Karen Mentoor, a community leader at Overcome Heights informal settlement, was at her wits’ end last week after the pipe had still not been fixed.
With sewage spilling into homes for weeks and no assistance from the city, Mentoor reached out to People’s Post.
“People have to wait so long to be helped, we have put people in place as councillors and voted for them but they don’t react when we need services, this is a disaster for people in Overcome Heights.”
According to Mentoor, six families were directly affected.
“It is smelling really bad, we have spoken to our councillor and nothing has happened, we have called the City and they just do nothing.
“The pipe is in Mountain Street, it has been leaking non-stop, it is a big problem. They (the City) just don’t pitch, then we as committees have to phone around constantly and ask them to come out.
“We have about six families whose homes are flooded and other families can’t walk to the shop because the road is full of water.”
She added that one road was completely flooded which made it impossible for some residents to reach their homes.
Ward 45 councillor Mandy Marr, who was on site Thursday 17 November, said City officials arrived in Overcome Heights on Thursday.
“What happened is that the storm water drain is blocked and residents are throwing waste water into the storm water system.”
Meanwhile Rob Quintas, Mayco member for Urban Mobility, said an assessment of the affected storm water and sewer pipes were conducted and it was found that the sewer pipe was overflowing into the storm water pipe causing a blockage.
“Leaks in the storm water pipe were also found to be a contributing factor, along with household waste water run-off that is being deposited in the channel that runs into the storm water intake.
“The stagnant water has been cleared, and a contractor is on site to repair the damaged storm water pipe and clear the blockage.
“The repair work is expected to be completed early this week, if all goes as planned. And a final inspection will be conducted to ensure the affected infrastructure has been fixed.”
