Heavy rains flood Highway homes
Four Mariannridge children were left with no school clothing and stationery when water and mud flooded their house.
THE heavy rains which started on Sunday have wreaked havoc in some Highway areas.
On Tuesday, 12 March, houses were flooded, roads were blocked and in Assagay, mudslides poured into homes threatening the lives of builders.
On Monday morning, Motala Heights residents woke up to a flooded Motala Road. “The road that serves as both an entrance and exit to the area is flooded every time there are heavy rains,” said Motala Heights CPF chairman, Ashley Govender.
“Sadly, this little community surrounded by industries is underdeveloped or very poorly developed and it seems to be forgotten by the authorities.”
He said Motala Heights is far below that of a sub-economic community struggling with poorly maintained roads and almost non-existent infrastructure.
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“We have over the years regressed to the place we find ourselves in at this moment. The Motala Heights Community was once a thriving one, but with the lack of basic resources we are experiencing major problems,” he said.
Govender said the major companies that have bought properties surrounding their area are also putting a lot of strain on this community.
“Banks are being eroded and we have tried to secure a meeting with all role players, including the ward councillor to address these critical issues but to date, we have been unsuccessful in getting these role players to the table,” he added.
In the Mariannridge area, three homes have been flooded by mud and rain.
“One house has been badly affected with the furniture, clothes and the children’s school stationery and uniforms being damaged.
“This was caused by a stormwater drain which was blocked for a long time. Two other houses were also affected,” said a resident, Jenny Boyce.
Since Sunday night, the families in the area have been helping with meals, food and clothing. “Blankets were dropped off by the ward councillor, Reginald ‘Bouy’ Cloete.
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In the Upper Highway area, Meditech ER paramedics were called out to a house in Mfishane Street, Assagay on Tuesday where workers were allegedly trapped in a mudslide.
“The three men were working at the bottom of a hill on a house on Assagay Road. When paramedics arrived they were informed of three workers at the bottom of the hill when the mudslide took place. The worker at the first house said he heard screams and then it went quiet,” said Meditech ER marketer, Derrick Banks.
“Meditech ER paramedics decided to split their resources and left some medical staff at the first house while the remaining team went down to Assagay Road to investigate the second house.
“Paramedics gained access to the yard and found that the mud had come down with force, crashing into the house and almost through the front wall of the residence.
“Further resources were called to see if they could help locate the workers. Paramedics searched the area and started to have doubts about finding any survivors, when emergency personnel were informed that all the workers had been removed prior to the mudslide taking place by the foremen,” explained Banks.
DA PR councillor for wards 13 and 15, Marlaine Nair, said she immediately brought this to the attention of the Roads and Stormwater Department for action on Monday.
“It is very concerning to me that the community of Motala heights has only one entrance/exit point which is constantly flooded or blocked by mud after heavy rains. Should a resident become severely ill, how will an ambulance get there in time or residents get to a hospital? I am told by residents that there were plans in the past for an exit at the Hidden City area, however, these plans never materialised. This is something we definitely need to explore,” said Nair.
She said that she has reported flooding and damage in the roads that the residents have complained of. “Residents claim that all drains were cleaned during December
2018 – January 2019, yet due to the drains being blocked again, stormwater flooded houses.
“This is something that needs to be looked into I will request for an investigation into what has caused these drains to be blocked resulting in flooding, especially if they were recently cleaned.” said Nair.
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