Residents trapped in sewage and snakes as Boitumelo’s ‘wetland RDPs’ become unlivable
Residents of Boitumelo in Sebokeng say they are living in “inhumane” conditions, with raw sewage flooding their homes, venomous snakes and other creatures invading their yards, and some families forced to abandon their RDP houses altogether.
They blame years of poor planning and governance failures by the Emfuleni Local Municipality, which they say built houses on wetlands, next to a stream and directly above major sewer infrastructure feeding into a nearby wastewater treatment plant.
The Emfuleni Local Municipality is accused of poor planning and governance failures over homes that were built on wetlands near sewer infrastructure.
Residents and activists demanded urgent relocation to safer areas and accountability from local and provincial governments.
For 16 years, Aaron Tsotetsi has watched sewage rise through his floors and out of his toilet. In desperation, he has literally drilled escape routes into his own home.
Inside his two-roomed RDP house, he has drilled holes into the walls of his bedroom and lounge, creating makeshift drainage channels to allow sewage to flow out when it backs up, especially when he is asleep or away from home.
Tsotetsi’s home is one of many in the area overwhelmed by raw sewage spills.
Some waste even comes out of a toilet in his home.
The crisis dates back to 2007, when residents first took occupation of their RDP units.
The problem dates to 2007 when residents moved into their new homes.
According to Tsotetsi and other residents, officials from the Emfuleni Local Municipality informed them that the houses were built on a wetland, near a stream, and close to large sewer pipes leading to a nearby wastewater treatment plant.
This poor planning has left residents trapped in uninhabitable conditions.
For Tsotetsi, the impact has been relentless.
“I have been stuck in this mess since 2008, immediately after moving into this house. I have never enjoyed staying here,” said Tsotetsi.
“My children have since relocated because they couldn’t handle the stench inside and outside the house. I built an ankle-high wall by the door to prevent sewage, snakes, frogs and crabs from entering.
“But it hasn’t helped because most of the sewage comes directly from my toilet. That’s why I drilled holes in the walls in case the house floods.”
Across the settlement, other families describe similar horror stories: homes repeatedly swamped by human waste, yards permanently waterlogged, and regular encounters with frogs, crabs and snakes that thrive in the fetid conditions.
The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that several residents have abandoned their homes, unable to endure the overpowering stench, the sight of human waste, and infestations of snakes, frogs, and even crabs in their living spaces.
“I almost collapsed because of the smell and the sight”
For Tsotetsi’s neighbour, Nombulelo Shongwe, daily life has become a struggle against sewage and fear.
For Tsotetsi’s neighbour, Nombulelo Shongwe, the situation is even worse.
Sewage has flooded the area outside her kitchen door, making it impossible to access her washing line.
She recounted a horrifying experience upon returning from church on Good Friday.
“My entire house was flooded. Human waste was gushing out of the toilet at high speed. I almost collapsed because of the smell and the sight,” Shongwe said.
“I had to sweep the waste out of the house and even picked up some of the faeces with my hands.
“It wasn’t the first time. On that day, I had forgotten to cover the toilet seat with a plastic bag when I left for church.”
She added that her yard was perpetually flooded and that she lives in constant fear of venomous snakes, frogs and crabs entering her home.
She added that her yard was perpetually flooded, and she lived in constant fear of venomous snakes, frogs and crabs entering her home.
“Is this the life we are meant to live? Where are the bodies meant to protect our rights and hold the government accountable?”
Respiratory illness, abandoned homes and one family’s escape
The health effects have been severe. Years of breathing in the stench have left some residents with chronic respiratory problems. Others have simply fled.
The health impact of the sewage crisis has forced some residents to abandon their homes.
Ouma Motsoeneng left her two-roomed RDP house three years ago due to respiratory problems caused by years of inhaling the stench.
Her house now stands empty, looked after by a neighbour.
“I couldn’t live there anymore. I was constantly removing snakes, frogs and crabs from inside the house. My yard is flooded and overgrown. I can’t walk long distances without struggling to breathe,” she said.
“My lungs are weak because of what I inhaled over the years. I now stay with relatives in Sebokeng. I will only return if the government relocates me,” Motsoeneng added.
Some, like Sesi Msimanga, have fought bitterly for years to escape.
Some residents, like Sesi Msimanga, have successfully fought for relocation.
After years of battling authorities, she was moved to another RDP house in 2019.
“My children and I were suffering from asthma. I was sharing a toilet and even a bed with snakes. I was tired of removing faeces from my house and walking through sewage outside,” she said.
“I fought the government and was eventually allocated another house. I feel for those left behind; they have no choice but to continue living under these conditions.”
Msimanga and other residents are calling for the relocation of all affected families to safer and more hygienic areas.
Calls for relocation and accountability
Residents and activists are demanding that all affected families be moved off the wetland and permanently resettled on land suitable for housing. They also want answers – and consequences – for the decisions that put them there in the first place.
Residents and activists demanded urgent relocation to safer areas and accountability from local and provincial governments.
DA member of the Gauteng legislature Kingsol Chabalala has slammed the situation as a “complete failure of governance”.
DA member of the Gauteng legislature Kingsol Chabalala condemned the situation, describing it as a complete failure of governance.
“These residents are living in inhumane conditions on land that is unfit for human habitation. Some houses were built on wetlands and directly above sewer infrastructure, causing raw sewage to flood homes, seep through floors and contaminate living spaces,” he said.
He added:
“This is not just an infrastructure failure. It is a gross violation of human dignity. Children are growing up exposed to disease, while families are falling ill or being forced to abandon their homes.”
“These conditions are the result of years of negligence, poor planning, and governance collapse by the Emfuleni Local Municipality. What is even more concerning is the lack of urgency from the Gauteng government,” Chabalala added.
He said the situation was unacceptable.
“Residents are being denied their constitutional right to safe and dignified housing. We will not stand by while people are forced to live in hazardous and undignified environments.”
Emfuleni Local Municipality spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni was contacted for comment and promised to respond, but no reply had been received at the time of publication.
Emfuleni Local Municipality spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni was contacted for comment and promised to respond.
For now, families like Tsotetsi’s and Shongwe’s remain trapped – literally building barriers against sewage and snakes at their front doors, while waiting for a government response that has so far failed to arrive.
“My son and my children won’t live here,” Tsotetsi says. “I am the one who is stuck in this mess.”
Until relocation or major remedial work happens, Boitumelo’s residents say they are effectively being asked to choose between their homes and their health – a choice they insist no one in post-apartheid South Africa should ever have to make.
