Tenants living in municipal rental houses in Murray Street, Ermelo, say ongoing water and sewage problems have left their homes damaged and their safety compromised. The latest issue, reported to have begun nearly two months ago, follows years of similar complaints by residents who say promised municipal interventions have not been implemented.
Standing water and sewage affecting homes
Residents Lorraine Mc Neill and Tersia Danhouser described large amounts of water accumulating around their houses after what appears to be a burst water pipe. Tenants say the water has pooled beside the municipal properties and remained stagnant, allowing algae to form and producing a persistent foul smell.
- Duration: Problem reported to have persisted for nearly two months.
- Visible damage: Carpets, couches and walls reportedly affected by water and sewage entering homes over years.
- Health and safety concerns: Stagnant water, algae, non-functioning lights and alleged electric shocks.
One tenant is said to have vacated her house because the living conditions became, in her words,
“We can’t live like this”untenable. Photographs supplied to local media show water pooling alongside the houses and interiors with apparent water damage to walls and soft furnishings.
Allegations of electric shocks and unsafe electrics
Tenants also raised concerns about poorly functioning exterior lighting on the premises and about the risk of electric shocks. Mc Neill alleges that faulty wiring, in combination with water entering her home, resulted in receiving shocks while bathing. She subsequently vacated the house because of the dangerous conditions and ongoing damage to personal belongings.
| Issue | Reported effect |
|---|---|
| Burst water pipe / standing water | Accumulation around houses; algae; foul odour |
| Sewage seeping into homes | Damaged carpets, couches; unpleasant smell retained in soft furnishings |
| Faulty lighting and wiring | Safety risk; alleged electric shocks; tenant vacated |
Municipal response sought
Public accounts request assistance from Msukaligwa Municipality. Local ward councillors and public representatives — named in published reporting as Silvija Breytenbach and Sonicha Korczynski — visited the property and contacted municipal officials to request urgent intervention. The reporting says photographs and video evidence were sent to Mandla Zwane, a spokesperson for Msukaligwa Municipality, and a response was being awaited at the time of publication.
Tenants said they had repeatedly reported problems to the municipality over time, but that interventions promised at earlier times did not materialise. The long-term nature of water and sewage ingress, they say, has left carpeting and other belongings stained and carrying an unpleasant smell despite attempts to remediate.
For residents living in municipal rental stock, persistent infrastructure failures translate into direct health and safety risks and the loss of personal property. Stagnant water can breed bacteria and provide a habitat for insects, while damaged electrical systems near damp environments increase the potential for shocks and fire hazards. The case in Murray Street highlights broader concerns about the maintenance and upkeep of municipal housing stock in Ermelo.
Municipal tenants in similar situations are advised to keep records of complaints lodged with the municipality and any correspondence, and to request written responses or work orders where possible. The situation in Murray Street will be monitored for any official action by Msukaligwa Municipality and for follow-up on repair timelines and tenant relief measures.
