Awful stench overwhelms neighbourhood

The area known as Bhekelandilale (or Bhekela) by residents means “move, I want to sleep” to mock the fact that the houses are so small. Bhekela was erected in 2006.

When the City of Cape Town could not build proper toilets, residents at Bhekela hired their own plumber to do the job. However the toilets are not maintained or serviced by the City.

Then a company hired by the City to construct drains left the job unfinished, causing toilets to block, water to become stagnant and puddles next to the shacks. Residents accuse Quetzal Trading of doing a quick-quick job. They claim the company only worked for three months then left, promising to come back. But since December, residents allege, the Quetzal has not returned.

However Quetzal Trading administrator Michelle Anthony told GroundUp that they completed all the work. “I do not understand why residents say we did not finish the job. We completed the work. We invoiced the City. There’s nothing more we need to do there in Philippi,” she said. She explained that her company was only responsible for the first phase of the project. She said that in a second phase more pipes would need to be put down, but Quetzal can’t proceed unless they get the go-ahead from the City.

The smell coming from the stagnant water next to some of the shacks is unbearable. Toilets are blocked. Children play next to portable toilets that are waiting to be collected.

Community leader Nontsikelelo Nogqala said that when they were moved to the area from Nyanga they were told that they will only stay in Bhekela for three months. At that time RDP houses were being built in Boystown to accommodate them. However three months has turned to eight years.

“This is not new to us, we been smelling this dirty wind for years,” Nogqala said.

She said last year at least five people died of tuberculosis and she suspects it is because of the conditions they live in.

She said when they were moved to the area eight years ago, the City built them container toilets, but these blocked after a year of not being serviced. So residents used bushes next to the area to relieve themselves.

The City then provided blue Mshengu toilets, but residents had to remove them after a year, because they were not being cleaned. Then residents were provided with porta-porta flush toilets but not everyone accepted them. For those who refused it was back to the bushes. Residents decided to hire a local plumber to build them flush toilets to share, but the toilets are also blocking because of lack of drains.

“As adults we can’t help ourselves on porta-porta toilets that is why we hired a plumber to build us toilets. We tried all other options. We went to our ward councillor Elese Depoutch complaining about blocked toilets but what he told us was so unbelievable. He said there’s nothing he can do because we voted for the Democratic Alliance,” said Nogqala.

But Depoutch denied this telling residents this. “This is very surprising to me. What I know is that we built 56 container toilets in the area before and residents sold them. We then gave them Mshengu toilets and they burned them. Then they were given porta-porta toilets but those who had money built toilets themselves. As we speak the municipality is busy building drains putting in bigger pipes,” he said.

Although some residents lock themselves in their shacks to escape the stench, others said they are used to the smell; it no longer bothers them.

But 59-year-old Hezel Ngqokelana told GroundUp that the bad smell of dirty water in front of her house is unbearable. “I hardly go outside of the house. I prefer to lock myself inside. This is not the life I want but I’m stuck here and now that winter is coming I won’t go out at all,” she said.

Ngqokelana showed a wound in her leg, saying it has been caused by the dirty water.

Hezel Ngqokelana on one of the few occasions that she leaves her shack. Photo by Anathi Vutula.

“Since 2008 I had this wound and it is not getting any better. Even doctors said they won’t be able to help me because of this dirty place I live in,” she said. “I have been in and out of hospital because of this wound,” she added.

City Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Service Councillor Ernest Sonnenberg, said the City has received complaints about the problems in the area. “As a result new gullies and standpipes have been installed. This system is designed to channel water away from the residents,” said Sonnenberg. He said, “We ask residents to please dispose of their bath or washing water into the gullies, as this will alleviate the problem of standing water around their homes.”

Sonnenberg said residents have also requested that an additional standpipe and gully be installed in an area of the settlement that had been without a water access point. He said work on this project will begin shortly.

He said there have been no complaints of blocked toilets, because the area is wholly serviced by portable toilets.

“The residents were offered chemical toilets but declined them in favour of the [portable toilets]. Quetzal Trading will perform the work,” he said.

“Residents receive a weekly door-to-door refuse removal service. Additionally, there is ongoing litter-picking and clearance of illegally dumped materials. The City appeals to residents to work with us by not dumping and littering,” Sonnenberg added.