A Cosmo City family recently awoke to a sewage catastrophe in their home and were forced to sewer surf around the house due to spilling sewage into the property.
Frequent blockages on Cosmo City's sewer drain and lines have been the worst nightmare for the family whose home in Extension 2 is frequently flooded.
The situation has been unbearable, according to the family head Mpho Mokapela,
“We’ve been staying on this property since 2007 without any problems,” he said. “The issue started in 2021 when my neighbour built back rooms and blocked the water passage.”
He stated that the problem began as a leak when there was a drain blockage or heavy rain, but in recent months it rapidly deteriorated, resulting in wastewater making its way into the house.
“When there is a storm, the sewer gushes and fills the house. The wastewater can get up to the ankles and can leave our furniture and appliances soaked in the dirty water.”
Even though the furniture and other items have been damaged, Mokapela has expressed worries about the effects on one's health because the sewage flooding has left behind harmful bacteria and germs.
“The councillor andmy neighbours have not been helpful in resolving this problem,” he said. The councillor is seemingly treating this as a civil matter and I am solely relying on Johannesburg Water to unblock the sewer line. However, Johannesburg Water takes time to come. The urgency of the problem is delayed by the administrative process (obtaining a reference number and dispatch of personnel),” he lamented.
“We’ve had enough of this problem but we remain helpless as there is no permanent solution as yet. The unblocking of the drain is always a temporary measure because when it rains, we go back to square one. "We really appeal for a permanent solution, even animals don’t leave in a river of sewer,” Mokapela appealed.