WATCH: Rhodesfield neighbours rescue children through window

“My neighbours had to break through burglar bars to get my children out of our flooded house,” said Mary Chirunga, whose Rhodesfield home was flooded following Saturday afternoon’s storm.

Chirunga was in Boksburg when she received a call from her neighbour Barbara Banda, telling her that her house was flooded.

“I thought she was joking because it was hot and not raining in Boksburg,” said Chirunga.

“I realised she was serious when she told me my children had to be taken out through the window to escape the floods. I rushed home to find cars parked in the backyard floating. I couldn’t believe what was happening because our whole house was flooded.”

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Three of her children were in the house when the incident happened.

“They told me they started to panic when water started gushing in through the kitchen and lounge doors. When they tried to get out through the kitchen door, the key broke because of the pressure of the water outside. Had they managed to open the door, they might have been hurt because the water was already above knee-level.

“Realising they could not get out, they started shouting for help. At that stage the one fridge and other appliances were floating in the water.

“My child Anesu Chauke (13) shouted for his friend, who lives next door. Fortunately, his friend heard him and told his mother Banda.”

Chirunga said more neighbours were alerted of the floods and jumped over the gate to help.

“They had to break open the burglar bars to get my children to safety, which I am truly grateful for.”

Chirunga is worried about all the things damaged in her home. “All our appliances are damaged because they were floating in water. We are even afraid to use the stove because it was covered in water.

“We put our bed mattresses outside in an effort to get dry but till today (Monday) they are still wet. All my important documents were soaking wet. The thing that stresses me most is my children’s books, textbooks and stationery that got soaked.

“My children didn’t go to school on Monday because they did not have stationery. All their stationery needs to be bought again and some of the textbooks belong to the schools.

“Items damaged include a microwave, freezer and fridge, stove, beds, television stand and television, DVD, washing machine, a tablet that I left in the house and so much more.”

Chirunga blames poor drainage systems for the floods.

“This is not the first time we experience floods but it has never been this extreme. We have reported the faulty drainage system but nothing has been done about it.

“Our neighbours said there was another flooding incident at the house before we moved in. They added that had the storm lasted 30 minutes longer, the water would have gone through the windows. This drainage system is a serious cause for concern and needs serious attention.

“I thank those who helped rescue my children and helped drain the water. Through all of this, my main stress is my children’s education right now.”