Atteridgeville, Gauteng — The Atteridgeville sewage crisis has reached a breaking point for residents of Extension 19, who are demanding urgent intervention as raw sewage continues to flow through their streets and yards. Families who were relocated from Brazaville in 2017 report that these unbearable sanitation failures have persisted for years, forcing some to send their children away to safer environments.
For many families in the area, home has become an unlivable environment. Residents report that the unsanitary conditions have become so severe that children are routinely exposed to hazardous wastewater. One resident noted they were forced to relocate their grandchildren to Limpopo province because the children were randomly playing in the sewage. Community members have observed children playing in, washing in, and even drinking the contaminated drainage water, highlighting a severe public health risk.
The foul odor has also become an inescapable part of daily life. Residents describe the stench as overpowering, stating that the area smells constantly of stagnant waste, making it difficult to stay outside or even eat in their own homes. Despite repeatedly reporting the failures to the City of Tshwane, residents feel ignored and invisible.
Community leaders have escalated the issue, raising it with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). However, residents allege they were deliberately excluded from meetings held between the City of Tshwane and the commission. Community representatives claim the City misled the SAHRC by omitting the complainants from the discussions, fearing that residents would expose the full truth of the living conditions.
The South African Human Rights Commission disputes the claim that it failed to communicate with the community. A spokesperson for the commission stated that they have since re-engaged directly with residents, providing a detailed response that outlines the City of Tshwane’s official plans, confirms regular site visits, and commits to quarterly monitoring of the situation.
Meanwhile, the City of Tshwane maintains that the issue extends beyond aging or failing infrastructure. A city spokesperson highlighted that the local sewage pump station has been repeatedly vandalized, and some residents have made illegal connections to the municipal sewer network, exacerbating the system’s failures.
The City noted that the procurement of service providers to assist the Extension 19 community is currently in its final stages. Officials strongly warned that vandalizing public infrastructure only wastes funds that are desperately needed for critical sewer pump repairs and system maintenance.
For now, residents of Extension 19 remain in limbo. They continue to wait for the raw sewage to stop flowing, hoping for a swift resolution that will transform their neighborhood back into a safe environment where children can play without facing severe health risks.
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