Votsho shackdwellers in Khayelitsha evacuate shacks as sewage pours in

• Several families at Votsho informal settlement in Harare, Khayelitsha evacuated their homes after the sewage came flooding into their shacks following a drain burst in the area.
• The residents claim it’s been almost four months since the drain burst, but it got bad again on Tuesday 7 November when shacks in the area were flooded again.
• Ward 98 councillor Anele Gabuza confirmed it had been a while since the drain in the area burst, stating that it had been reported it to the City of Cape Town several times, but nothing came of it.

Several families at Votsho informal settlement in Harare, Khayelitsha evacuated their homes after the sewage came flooding into their shacks following a drain burst in the area. They said it’s been almost four months since the drain burst, but it got bad again on Tuesday 7 November when shacks in the area were flooded again.

More than five families left their shacks while others were trying to prevent the sewage from getting in by raising the floor with sand.

Resident Siyanda Mvandaba said people of the area, who live there because they have no choice, were now in danger of contracting contagious diseases. The mother of two said she took her children to stay with her sister at nearby Ndlovini informal settlement. 

“We do not stay here because we want to; we don’t have a choice. We don’t have houses nor the money to rent.” She said she and her family would gladly relocate if they got a proper place with basic services.

Some of the residents sitting outside watching their shacks being flooded.

One of the shacks surrounded by sewage.

Ward 98 councillor Anele Gabuza confirmed it had been a while since the drain in the area burst. He said he had reported it to the City of Cape Town several times, but nothing came of it. He pointed out that the reason the sewage had come gushing into people’s shacks is that the Welcome Zenzile Bridge, which is close by, was blocked and the sewage unable to pass through it. 

“I phoned the City again on Wednesday 8 November to relate the extent of the mess, and a promise was made that service providers would be sent.” Gabuza stated the area had no basic services because it was built on a pond.

While City Vision was still in the area the City’s truck arrived to drain the sewage from the area.