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Home » Residents pained by poor service delivery as manhole drain blocks again

Residents pained by poor service delivery as manhole drain blocks again

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Despite attempts by local Ward Councillor Naeem Patel, to ‘paint a good picture’ of the pathetic service delivery residents receive from the ANC led Tshwane Council, many residents are fast realising that the ANC, regarded by many as the most corrupt political party, has failed its people.

This follows another week of yet more complaints of poor service delivery in Ward 61, from residents living in the area. In one the latest complaints, residents living on 17th Ave, in Laudium, expressed frustration after a manhole drain—that was blocked for days and then finally recently repaired by Council workers—began leaking again as it was once more blocked. Residents told the Laudium Sun this past Monday (May 19) about their frustration on finding the manhole blocked again, the past weekend, causing dirty sewage water to run outside their homes. Many of the residents complained that despite the recent ‘fix,’ the issue has resurfaced, raising concerns about the quality of the workmanship.
Residents are now questioning why the Council is unable to perform a proper, long-lasting repair, calling on the Municipality to take accountability and implement a permanent solution to the recurring problem. Habiba Khalid, a resident of 17th Avenue in Laudium, expressed her frustration to the Laudium Sun, regarding the recurring issue of the leaking manhole drain, “We are really frustrated with the poor-quality work done by the Council to fix the manhole. The drain, which is right next to my house, has started leaking again—and it hasn’t even been that long since it was supposedly repaired. I had hoped that the issue was resolved, but clearly, the Council has done another cheap job. They don’t look for permanent solutions—they just want to impress the people of Laudium by claiming they’re addressing problems, but in reality, it’s the residents who continue to suffer. The Council workers must fix the manhole properly, once and for all. We need long-term solutions, not temporary patches done just for the sake of appearances.”

The manhole drain on 17th Ave, Laudium, has started leaking again, just a few days after supposedly being fixed, frustrating nearby residents.

Another 17th Avenue resident, Sajid Khilji, voiced his concern to the Laudium Sun over the recurring manhole blockage issue, “The problem with the manhole drain in our area has started again. The smell is unbearable and sewage—including toilet waste and faeces—is coming out of the drain. It’s disgusting and is making our living conditions extremely unhealthy. This is a serious issue. The foul smell alone is making life feel terrible. The Council needs to fix the drain as soon as possible—and do it properly this time. We are tired of the Council doing cheap, short-term fixes. What we need is a proper, long-term solution. No more of this ‘manga manga’ The manhole drain on 17th Ave, Laudium, has started leaking again, just a few days after supposedly being fixed, frustrating nearby residents. business—it’s time for real, accountable action.”

17th Ave resident, Sajid Khilji, said they are tired of the Council doing cheap short-term fixes and that a proper long-term solution is required.

Gontse Mahlange, yet another exasperated 17th Avenue resident, told the Laudium Sun, “The smell is absolutely disgusting—we can’t bear it anymore. We haven’t even reported the issue to the Council this time because, honestly, we’ve lost faith in them. They are not doing a proper job at all. The manhole drain was just recently fixed, but not even three days have passed and it’s already leaking again. This is unacceptable. The Council needs to do the job properly and fix the drain once and for all. We’re tired of these cheap, temporary fixes that seem more about impressing people and gaining votes during election time, than actually solving the problem. This must stop. The Council workers and the Councillor need to take their responsibilities seriously. This is not just a time-pass—it’s about our health and quality of life.”

Gontse Mahlange said it is unacceptable that the manhole drain has started leaking again,
just days after being fixed by the Council.

*The Laudium Sun called the relevant Municipal Department on Tuesday (May 20) and we were assured that the complaint of the blockage would be attended to.