South African diplomats, already navigating tense relations with President Donald Trump, face a new challenge as their embassy was flooded with stormwater and raw sewage.
The incident, linked to a 2022 construction project, prompted a lawsuit filed last week against the District of Columbia and several contractors, seeking $2.8 million in damages.
The embassy claims negligent work during a street resurfacing near 3051 Massachusetts Ave. NW allowed debris to clog drainage systems, causing severe flooding that damaged garage doors, elevators, equipment, and five official vehicles.
The filing accuses the district and its water authority of inadequate oversight and failure to address complaints effectively.
The embassy remains partially inoperable, with significant financial losses reported.
The district’s attorney general declined to comment, and no defense lawyers are listed yet.
Source: South Africa Sues for Damages After Sewage Floods Its US Embassy – Bloomberg
Featured image: A stench of failure : The sewage overflow crisis in South Africa’s municipalities – The Mail & Guardians
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