Niël Terblanché
Swakopmund residents were met with an unpleasant surprise on Tuesday when a damaged municipal sewer pipe at the MTC Dome grounds led to raw effluent flowing all the way down to Strand Street.
The flood of sewage occurred just days after the road had been repaired following damage caused by flooding after recent heavy rains.
The Swakopmund municipality confirmed that the sewer line was damaged during the installation of a tent at the Dome.
“A contractor inadvertently damaged one of the municipal sewage pipes. Our maintenance teams are actively attending to the issue and will carry out the necessary repairs as soon as possible,” the municipality said in a statement.
The incident drew immediate concern from nearby residents, some of whom were directly affected by the spill.
One woman, returning home for her lunch break, described the scene with dismay.
“Lovely coming home for a quick bite to eat, driving my car through the entire town’s sewage water and smelling faeces while munching on my toastie,” she said.
According to the municipality, the fault appears to have been caused by a misjudged tent peg.
“Apparently, someone nailed their tent peg in exactly not the right spot,” another resident remarked.
This disruption comes just as the local authority completed extensive repairs on Strand Street, which had been damaged by floodwaters more than a month ago.
The municipality has apologised to residents for the inconvenience and expressed appreciation for the community’s patience as teams work to resolve the situation.
In a small consolation, another resident noted; “At least tomorrow is a public holiday.”
