Cape Town - Mothers in Manenberg say burst sewerage pipes are causing their children to fall ill.
At least six children have been diagnosed with gastro and one was hospitalised.
Residents in Dwyka Street say pipes have been bursting for years causing sewage to flow into the street.
Colleen Nel who has been living in the area for 30 years, told the Daily Voice she’s now fed-up after her six-year-old, Aden, fell ill because of the poo water.
Little Aden was admitted to Gatesville Medical Centre last Wednesday and diagnosed with gastro, which causes diarrhoea and vomiting and can be contracted from contaminated water.
Aden spent four days in hospital and was discharged on Saturday.
“It made me sad to go fetch my child from hospital and bring him to the same area he got sick in because the water from the sewer was running out again,” says Colleen.
Mom Colleen Nel with her son Aden. Picture: Jack Lestrade
“We are fed-up, the council never gets a solution even though it’s been happening for almost 16 years now. We pay rates and tax, we don’t live here for free.”
Che Kim Miggels, mother of two-year-old Saeed says her son has chronic diarrhoea.
“It’s disgusting, when he plays in the road, he walks in the k**,” the angry mom says.
She says because of the stench, they are forced to keep their windows closed, and she’s too shy to invite people to her house.
“I’m scared to open my windows because of that smell. Yoh! I can’t even describe how disgusting it is and it stays in our houses.”
Mom of four, Sidecka Ajam, says her children regularly miss school. “The moment the drains start, that’s when my kids get sick; it’s almost every second day.”
The City said on Tuesday it was looking into the matter.