Lenasia residents at breaking point as sewage crisis drags on
They claim sewage regularly backs up through drains inside their homes and spills into their yards, creating unbearable living conditions.
Residents of Extension 11B in Lenasia say they have reached breaking point as ongoing sewage overflows continue to plague Bangalore Drive and surrounding streets, leaving homes, yards and roads reeking of raw sewage.
Frustrated residents told the Lenasia Rising Sun that the problem has persisted for months despite numerous complaints being logged with Johannesburg Water (JW).
They claim sewage regularly backs up through drains inside their homes and spills into their yards, creating unbearable living conditions.
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Residents further alleged that complaints have repeatedly been duplicated and followed up, yet little has changed.
The persistent sewage spill has left a foul odour hanging over parts of the neighbourhood, with residents fearing it could pose a serious health risk, particularly to children and the elderly. In response to media inquiries from the Lenasia Rising Sun, Johannesburg Water spokesperson, Nombuso Shabalala confirmed that the utility is aware of the recurring sewer blockages affecting the area.
Shabalala said describing the issue as ‘not resolved’ would be an understatement, explaining that teams have been dealing with different blockages along the outfall sewer line running through nearby bushland rather than repeatedly clearing the same blockage.
According to Johannesburg Water, investigations revealed several factors contributing to the recurring overflows. Vandalism of the sewer line with drain rats (thieves) breaking manhole covers and slabs for the steel inside, which they then dump broken concrete into the sewer system.
This then causes severe blockages that often require excavation before they can be cleared. The utility also blamed damage caused during stormwater maintenance, saying rubble, sand and stones are pushed into manholes when nearby stormwater channels are cleared, creating further obstructions.
Johannesburg Water further revealed that the latest blockage was caused by an individual who allegedly attempted to illegally connect to the sewer network using a TLB.
The attempt reportedly damaged the sewer pipe before being abandoned, leaving the system blocked. Illegal dumping in the area has also worsened the situation.
Although concrete blocks were installed to prevent dumping into manholes and access roads were closed, the utility said the barriers have repeatedly been removed, allowing further vandalism and illegal dumping. Shabalala said repairs and maintenance were scheduled to begin on Monday, July 20.
She explained that construction work had been delayed due to challenges with Johannesburg Water’s TLB service provider contract, resulting in a backlog of repairs across the city.
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“The matter has now been resolved, and we will be running at full capacity. However, response times will still be affected over the next few weeks while we work through the backlog,” she said.
Johannesburg Water said it also plans to reinstall concrete blocks over the affected manholes and once again close access routes to the outfall line in an effort to curb vandalism and illegal dumping. The utility has undertaken to provide a further update once the repair work has been completed.
