Clairwood business owners call for urgent action on persistent sewer blockage

A group of Clairwood business owners claimed that their businesses have been disrupted due to sewage water flowing on the roadside for a month. 

The South Coast Road businesses and adjoining roads, such as Sigamoney and Seaward, are badly affected by the stench, said businessman Rajan Moodley on Tuesday. 

He claimed that the sewer line is blocked, and municipal staff allegedly arrive on site to view the problem but leave without unblocking it.

“The smell is unbearable. We even had a private plumber who advised us that it is a municipal problem throughout Clairwood. This is an industrial area. We pay huge taxes and rates.  Where is the money going if they do not have proper equipment?” Moodley said. 

A cafe owner, who did not want to be named, claimed it was “a major health hazard, which is creating significant inconvenience for tenants and customers.”

“An inspector must be sent out to ensure the repair is done correctly,” he said. 

A dry cleaning business owner said the sewer flow has been unattended for an extended period despite several complaints to the municipality. 

“The mobility of pedestrians and vehicles coming into contact with the sewer water poses a serious concern, and a major health risk,” he said. 

Business owners are also concerned about a sinkhole in the centre of one of the road lanes, which they claim could aggravate the sewer pipeline blockage. 

Moodley was also concerned that wastewater was flowing into the storm drain and that the area around the sinkhole was not cordoned off. 

“This is an accident waiting to happen. At night, there is inadequate lighting, so the danger of a car or truck striking the hole could cause considerable damage,” Moodley said. 

Gugu Sisilana, eThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson, said the cause of the sewer pipeline blockage was attributed to silt ingress, fat, and oil deposited into the sewer line, and a broken pipe.

She said access to the site caused delays in conducting the repair. 

“A letter to the property owner was issued. The city now has access. In the interim, the city has been jetting and providing water tankers to help alleviate the situation,” she said. 

About the road defect on South Coast Road, the municipality stated that there is currently a significant silt build-up in the trunk main, which it is actively addressing. 

“The trunk main is in the centre lane of the road, and a road closure will be required to carry out the necessary desilting and repair work safely. Our team is making arrangements for a possible road closure to allow the work to proceed. Additionally, there is possible damage to a 6-inch line caused when heavy trucks eroded the road surface, which will also be assessed and repaired as part of this intervention,” Sisilana said. 

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za