Residents in two of the units in Deneys Conradie were unable to celebrate Diwali (a festival celebrated by Hindus) as they usually do every year because their units were flooded with water since November 6.
The City Times visited the council-owned flats on November 13 and Patricia Padayachie, whose flat was affected, explained that the leakage occurred on November 6 and she reported the matter to the council and the caretaker.
“The caretaker came out to have a look and told us that it was a leaking pipe. We have since had to wipe our floors every minute as we are afraid that the water would damage our furniture. Our floors need to be dry because we use electrical appliances.”
Padayachie added that she and her husband are diabetics and they have to wake up some nights to eat when their sugar levels drop and her biggest fear is slipping on the wet floor.
Sharing the same concerns as Padayachie is Jay Gajoo, who said that water has been dripping from the light bulb.
Gajoo also has to constantly keep the floor dry. He suffers from vertigo and one of the symptoms is a loss of balance.
The residents said they cannot run errands as they fear that the flat would be flooded when they return.
Sinethemba Matiwane, Ward 73 councillor, assured the residents that they will be moved to alternative units while the leakage is fixed.
He explained that residents cannot be moved immediately as there is a process that needs to be followed, which includes ensuring that the temporary unit is conducive for them to stay in.
The City Times was informed on November 18 that they still had not been moved to the temporary units.
The water leakage is not the only concern for residents. They added that the building is not maintained and the following issues need to be addressed:
• Blocked drains in certain units
• Leaking toilets
• No security
• Holes in the floor that have not been filled
• No garden services.
According to the Ekurhuleni metro the matter has been attended to and prior to that the tenants were afforded alternative flat.
