Somalia Park residents seek help following floods
She said the situation forces them to replace furniture every year because of the damage caused by water.
Sylvia Majola (69) from Somalia Park said she has been living in the area for five years, but only experienced flooding issues after a bridge was built at the intersection leading into Somalia Park at the Old Heidelberg highway.
Majola said during the rainy season it becomes problematic to move around the community. It is even worse for children going to school every morning because they must walk the muddy roads. At times they get to school late because they cannot use the usual route because of flooding.
“Emergency vehicles cannot use the route either. Once when my child was sick, the ambulance could not get to us. I had to carry her to the highway where the ambulance was parked,” said Majola.
According to community leader Mtombi Gevesa, the bridge is the cause of flooding in the area.
“We have written letters to the councillor for help, but we never receive feedback. We are asking for the bridge to be closed or redirected. Or for people to be moved from the low-lying area because it is not safe,” said Gevesa.
Rebecca Mathentje (59) is one of the most affected residents. She said the situation forces them to replace furniture every year because of the damage caused by water.
“Whenever it rains water gets in the house. I have to replace my child’s school books, which were damaged due to the rain,” said Mathentje.
ANC councillor in Ward 45 Makhosi Lehari said since he became a councillor in 2016 he has encouraged people not to build new houses in Somalia Park. He said the local leadership went to Somalia Park and identified 12 houses badly affected. He said they will move these families as soon as they are ready to move. He added that one of the residents, however, refused to move.
Lehari said the people who qualify for the houses will be moved; they should apply with the Department of Human Settlement.
“There will be two types of houses: RDP houses given to residents with no source income and rental stock for those who do not qualify for the RDP houses,” said Lehari.
