FLOODING sewage has shut the church and stopped its pastor’s healing work. The 400 or so members stay in their RDPs to avoid the bad smell coming from a blocked drain down Sakwatsha, Khetshe, Siboni and Siyo streets in Peace Village, Uitenhage. St John Apostolic Faith Mission’s Reverend Victoria September (66) said: “Our church has been closed for more than a month. There will be no services until the drain is fixed.
“I heal people using holy water, but our church is surrounded by sewage. We can’t sing and praise the Lord. The stink is bad.
“We pray for the sewage to stop, but nothing happens. My job is to heal people but this sewage brings illness.”
Resident Fikiswa Nadi (45) said: “I pray at home for the sewage to disappear.
“I reported the matter to our ward councillor, but we are still sitting with shit.”
Gogo Nomeisie Ndlazi (56) said: “We cough. Our kids have rashes, and we can’t hang our clothes on the washing line because of the stink.”
Anele Velaphi (46) said: “Reverend Victoria has healing powers, but this sewage discourages her and her good work.”
Sometimes patients are even referred to her by clinics. A Laetitia Bam Day Hospital nurse, who didn’t want to be named, said: “Sometimes we refer women who struggle to go into labour to Reverend Victoria. She would massage them and thereafter they’d be able to deliver. This sewage makes her work difficult.”
Councillor Loyiso Stemele said: “I reported this to the municipality, but without luck. Many officials at the municipality are aware of the drain problem.”
Spokesman for Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Mthubanzi Mniki said: “A team was sent with machinery but we’re still looking for a permanent solution.”
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