For nearly three years Simon Street residents in Nomzamo have been battling to clear their street of dirty water emanating from an underground pipe.

The residents say they have lost faith in the municipality and believe their street will never be the same again.

However, the City of Cape Town has dismissed their claims saying the matter was never reported.

The City’s media officer Zama Feni said it had taken the responsibility formally to log a complaint on behalf of the community.

“It is quite important that residents report sewage overflows as soon as possible and note that the City usually only knows there’s a problem when issues are reported,” said Feni, adding the matter would be resolved as soon as all the necessary processes have been followed.

A livid resident Thanduxolo Mayedwa blamed Robben Island informal settlement residents for some of their problems.

“The problem started after the establishment of the nearby informal settlement. Some of the shacks are built on top of the drainage system,” he said. “So, in order for the City to fix our blocked sewage pipes it needs to remove some of the shacks that are built on top of the sewage pipes at Robben Island.”

Mayedwa said residents have become victims because they have no intentions of moving. The water is stagnant, smells and poses a health hazard to the entire community,” he said.

“We cannot blame the previous councillor for this. We are depending on the residents of Robben Island to move.”

When City Vision visited the area on Saturday 7 May, some of the motorists were battling to drive around. They had to find alternative routes while residents used sidewalks. An unbearable stench filled the air.