Hilbrow’s Chelsea House residents — up to necks in sewage — demand urgent City intervention 

As you enter Chelsea House in Johannesburg’s inner city suburb of Hillbrow, you are hit by an unbearable stench.

“We are living in a pool of sewage,” says Mokweng Mohlapamaswi, who has been a resident here for 13 years.

If the water rises much more it will come into contact with the electricity box.

Mkhomazi Nyilika, together with other residents from Chelsea House, say they have reported the matter to the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (Joshco) and the local councillor. But they have had no response.

“As tenants, we urgently call on the City to intervene and help us drain the sewage and make sure that basic services are provided to us urgently,” said Nyilika.

Ward 64 Councillor Jack Sekwaila (ANC) said in mid-2022 he assisted the tenants by getting Joshco to drain the sewage water. But in no time, the residents complained the water was back.

“The biggest challenge is that people of Chelsea, less than 10% of them, are paying their services to the City. It then becomes a problem for the City to service them,” says Sekwaila.

But Siyabonga Mahlangu, activist and secretary of the Inner City Federation, says cutting off people from basic services because they cannot afford them is unlawful and unconstitutional, and amounts to a forceful eviction.

“Refusing to remove sewage is a total disregard of their dignity and children’s rights guaranteed by the Constitution,” he says.

If Joshco cannot do it, then the City must, he said.

Left without refuse collection, tenants dump their garbage in this skip. They burn it, affecting people in the area. (Photo: Musawenkosi Cabe)