A Greenpoint resident says her family is living a nightmare as raw sewage continues to flow into the veld behind their home.
Image: Danie van der Lith
A FOUL stench hangs in the air in Greenpoint, where resident Susan Tlapane says her family is living a nightmare caused by raw sewage flowing into the veld behind her house.
Standing in her backyard with her arms raised in frustration, Tlapane pointed toward the growing pool of sewage water seeping into the open land behind her home. She believes the problem started shortly after her neighbour moved into a newly constructed house next door.
“About a month or two after the house was built and they moved in, raw sewage started flowing into the veld behind me,” Tlapane told the DFA. “I don’t know why, but something is not right.”
When the DFA visited her home, the pungent smell of sewage was unmistakable - reaching noses even from the street.
In the neighbour’s yard, the newly built house stood visible, and while the external pipes from the toilet and washbasin appeared to be correctly connected to a sewage outlet, the actual destination of the wastewater raised serious concerns.
In the veld, sewage water bubbled up from underground, suggesting that a pipe could have been purposefully laid to direct the waste into the open area. While the exact plumbing set-up could not be confirmed, what was undeniable was that the sewage came from the house and was now contaminating the surrounding environment.
“Every day we have to sit with this smell,” Tlapane said. “We cannot even sit outside and enjoy a cup of coffee. As soon as the sun goes down, the mosquitoes come out in the thousands. Going to the toilet outside at night is impossible.”
The constant presence of mosquitoes has become more than just a nuisance. Tlapane said their family meals are regularly interrupted by insects falling into their food, and their young child is now struggling with respiratory issues due to the excessive use of insecticide sprays.
“We are spraying so much Doom to get the mosquitoes away, and now our little boy is struggling with his chest. I don’t know what to do anymore.”
She added that while Sol Plaatje Municipality has in the past responded promptly when their main sewage drain blocked, the current issue was unlike anything they had dealt with before.
“When our drain blocks, the municipality comes out, unblocks it, and the problem is solved for six months to a year. But this is something else entirely. This is a major health issue, and I’ve tried speaking to my neighbour about it, but I am getting no joy at all,” she said, visibly distressed.
The newly built house next door, which residents believe is linked to the sewage issue.
Image: Danie van der Lith
In response, Charlie Williams, the owner of the neighbouring house, insisted that all construction was above board and followed legal guidelines.
“I used qualified builders and plumbers to build on my premises. Everything is according to specifications,” Williams told the DFA.
According to him, a rodding eye was installed during the construction of the toilet area to prevent backflow in case of a blockage. However, in an attempt to protect his own yard from raw sewage spills, Williams confirmed that he laid a long pipe underground, leading directly to the veld.
“To prevent the sewage from messing into my own yard, I laid a pipe underground to the veld. Unfortunately, the sewage is flowing there because the municipal drains keep pushing up. Even in my other neighbour’s yard, the sewage is running into the veld, so I don’t understand why I’m the one being blamed.”
He acknowledged that the entire neighbourhood suffers under the burden of the smell and environmental hazard.
“Sol Plaatje Municipality needs to come and put the pumps on to clear the drains. There’s a Mr Winston who works there – he’s in charge of these things. If the drains were clear, the sewage wouldn’t flow into the veld.”
Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thabo Mothibi said: “The City Engineer conducted a site assessment this morning, and the findings will inform our intervention efforts and the application of the law.”
Meanwhile, the sewage continues to flow, the stench continues to suffocate the community, and Tlapane – like many of her neighbours – is left with more questions than answers and no relief in sight.
“This is not just about me,” she said. “This is about our children, our health, and our dignity. Someone has to do something before it’s too late.”
Sewage water can be seen flowing from a pipe that was laid underground, directing the waste into the veld.
Image: Danie van der Lith
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