Hout Bay residents fear ongoing sewage outflows will cause a public health emergency

CAPE TOWN - A group of Hout Bay residents fear that ongoing sewage overflows in the area would soon result in a public health emergency.

Residents said that sewage from the Imizamo Yethu informal settlement often spilled into the area due to an inadequate sewerage system.

The City of Cape Town said that a dedicated team was working on the sewage problem in Hout Bay.

Concerned resident, Andrew Davey, who is also a civil engineer, said the Hout Bay Sports complex often bore the brunt of the sewage overflows.

"They fixed the sewer on the ablution block here, but they haven't fixed the main line. The main line's blocking and there's a manhole on the court. When it's blocked up, it just bubbles up. It happens twice a month."

City Mayco member for water and sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, said that a blockage of wire mesh, spoons, rags, and other items caused a recent sewer overflow at the basketball courts.

"The recreation and parks team are also attending to issues in their own network at the facility, which is receiving their attention currently."

The city said stormwater to sewer pipe connections, illegal sewerage pipes, and misuse, coupled with the growing Imizamo Yethu population, were some of the causes of sewage overflows in Hout Bay.