By Phumlani Saul
RESIDENTS are battling to breathe because of sewage running through their kasi.
They said the municipality’s failure to collect rubbish has made the situation worse.
Residents of Moses Mabhida zone 4 in Kirkwood, Eastern Cape, claim the situation has affected their pig business.
They said the pigs drank the sewage water and ate food residents dumped in the streams.
Xolani Langbooi (35) said they eat the pigs anyway.
He told Daily kasi news: “Since 2010 we’ve been experiencing overflow drains ekasi. When drains in upper level areas such as Ntakazilali, Bhongweni and Ethembeni become blocked, all the raw sewage overflows into our area at the lower level.”
They reported the matter to the municipality daily.
“Instead, the municipality made a cement trench in order for the sewage to flow into the dams,” he said.
“We have pigs which are our source of income.
“But people no longer want to buy them for fear of a disease outbreak.”
Another resident Zoliswa Cima (49) said: “It’s hard to get in and out of my yard as sewage overflows in front of my gate.”
Sundays River Valley municipal spokeswoman Zusiphe Mtirara said: “An investigation was conducted in 2017 on the cause of overflowing of sewage.
“It revealed the existing infrastructure couldn’t match the growing population.”
The municipality has registered the upgrading of sewer lines in the municipal infrastructure grant funding.
“The programme is being implemented in Addo and Paterson to address a similar issue.
“We have jetting trucks which unlock pipes, and this is done daily.”
She said the municipality failed to collect rubbish due to truck problems.
“Residents were made aware the refuse won’t be collected during those few days.
“Otherwise, the municipality collects rubbish.
“We urge residents to only take out rubbisj during collection days.”
Daily Kasi News 