Two call-out fees to plumbers and countless minutes on the phone… and Bloemfontein resident, Angie Allison, is still awaiting help. This after her yard has been overflowing with sewage.
A desperate Allison contacted Bloemfontein Courant after she had tried numerous times to get hold of the municipality over the weekend. According to her, the municipal drain has some sort of blockage, which her neighbours had already reported on Friday.
“Since Saturday morning we have had to contend with a large amount of sewage running through our property. We first phoned a plumber, thinking it was our drain. Only to be told one callout later that it was the municipal drain that was blocked. Efforts to contact the municipality were in vain, and a second plumber and workers volunteered their services and attempted to clear the blockage, but were unable to,” said Allison.
She added that the situation has worsened due to the recent rains and unsanitary waste like sanitary pads and used condoms wash up in her yard. This is a big concern for her as she has a 14-month old child who now is forced to stay inside the house as this is a health risk for him. “We’ve got a confused 14-month-old child who doesn’t understand why he can’t play in the ‘puddles’ in the garden, let alone the sewage which has been running into our kitchen as well.”
Allison tried her luck again this morning and was told by the municipality that they will get to her today as they have a 48-hour turnaround time and they do not view her situation as more important than the other blockages.
Municipal spokesperson, Qondile Khedama is yet to respond on the matter.
Pierce van Heerden
