Merebank residents kick up stink over sewerage crisis

Merebank residents have told Newswatch there is been an ongoing problem with the local pump station. 

In the area known as Chinatown, effluent has been flowing into yards and in the streets. 

Resident Navin Singh has described the smell he says he was hit with just last week. “It is very, very frustrating. In the morning when you get up, as soon as you open your doors there is a stink. You can’t even close your bathroom windows because the pipes are all blocked and the only place it comes out is in your bath and the toilet. And it stinks. 

“You can’t close your doors at night your windows at night, because if you close your windows your whole house will be smelling of pooh. It’s unbearable.”

Venitha Munsami says they spent Christmas Day cleaning up the overflow in their backyard. 

“I had an ailing mom, an 86 year old, and she passed away on the 21st of December. So it was awful and we had to ask our family members not to come because it’s a health hazard as well. And I also have a four-month-old grandkid and a two year old. It’s very unhealthy for them as well. 

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Another resident Burton Jaganathan says the community has previously picketed over service delivery. 

“People are getting fed up, we don’t know where this is going to lead, but we can’t see our people being quiet any longer. We’ve been telling the municipality they have to sort themselves out. 

“They are always telling us they don’t have teams, or they don’t have a budget to do the work. Yes, we understand those are problems but they are not out problems. We are paying our rates diligently. There is no rates boycott. But if this continues for the next month there is going to be a rates boycott and the municipality doesn’t like that.” 

A meeting is being planned with city officials where a memorandum addressed to the eThekwini mayor will be handed over. 

The city has not responded to a request for comment.