Heideveld residents say they are gatvol of mopping up poo water from leaking toilets that’s been going on for more than a year.
The City-owned flats leak from top floors are affecting residents on floors below.
They say the poo water drips down the walls when they flush.
“The k** is on the walls,” says a gatvol Mabelina Gacubus, 64, who has lived in her flat for 30 years.
“We are expected to pay rent every month yet they cannot do a simple thing and that is fixing the leaks.”
She says the leaks are also affecting her electricity: “The light bulbs do not last anymore and I suspect there is water in the roof.”
Her neighbour Emmy Solomon moved in just over a year ago with her mother and says she walked straight into the crappy problem.
“People were complaining about this when I moved in here and it is still happening. We are reporting it, but no help comes.”
Councillor Malusi Booi, the City’s Mayco Member for Human Settlements, said they are aware of the complaints, but their hands are tied.
“The City’s Public Housing Department is currently experiencing severe repair work backlogs, primarily due to the impact of the Covid-19 crisis and we are trying our best to work through it as soon as possible.
“Our Public Housing Department has spent close to R1 billion in maintenance and upgrades to its Community Residential Units (CRU) over the past two years.
“We sincerely apologise for the length of time that this is taking.”
He urged residents to be patient while they attend to the most urgent cases first: “We thank our residents for their patience while the staff are carrying out the work.”