GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Lotusville sisters-in-law Maureen and Cinty Rafferty have had enough of the overpowering stench from sewage in the street near their homes.
At the corner of Hoffman Street and Recreation Street, just behind Kamdebo Primary School, a large pool of sewage water stretches right across the street.
Pigs wandering around the area regularly walk right through the water, and root through piles of rubbish.
According to residents, there has also been clean water bubbling up into the mire for the past three months or so, which just makes the sewage spread out over a wider area. This has been reported to the municipality on a regular basis.
Two weeks ago, the situation was dire, and the sewage was even flowing into Maureen's yard, collecting outside her bedroom and kitchen. She went to the municipal offices in Aberdeen and spoke to the town manager.
Residents abhor the stench they are forced to live with every day of their lives.
"He told us they need to wait for a machine from Willowmore, but they could open it and pour in chlorine for now, and promised to send somebody," she explained. "We are still waiting."
Many people living close to the area, some in informal housing, came to show their support, all equally fed up with the stench. "This is making our lives unbearable, the municipality must do something," said one irate resident.
"We have to be very careful with our children, as they love to play in water, and the young ones don't understand that this water could make them sick."
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