Ext. 6 homes flooded due to blocked drain
“Three weeks ago, an official from the Department of Water and Sanitation came to my mother’s house and assured her the drain would be unblocked within a week. Naturally, it still hasn’t been done!”
Three already humble residences in Extension 6, Mhluzi, have suffered extensive water damage due to dirty street water pushing up into their homes from a clogged storm water drain.
A 24-year-old gentleman desperately explained that he “just wants to help his 52-year-old mother”, whose house has flooded more than three times while the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality’s Department of Water and Sanitation fails to respond to the clogged drain.
The man, who requested anonymity, explained that his mother lives alone in her house, which is one of three in the street that have been flooded by heavy rainfall.
He said that his mother sent a request through to the municipality even before the rainy season’s arrival, in the hopes of preventing water logging in their area. Her request fell on deaf ears.
With the rain’s arrival, his mother and her two neighbours’ homes have flooded three times already.
“The blocked stormwater drain results in the heavy rainfall we have received not dissipating and it floods into the homes. A wall separating the stands behind my mother’s house also prevents the water build-up from draining, leaving my mom’s home and all of her belongings standing in water.”
The young man, who has moved to Ermelo, says that he can’t give an estimated cost on damage, but showed the Middelburg Observer photos of how the water level sometimes rises to just underneath the knee.
“Three weeks ago, an official from the Department of Water and Sanitation came to my mother’s house and assured her the drain would be unblocked within a week. Naturally, it still hasn’t been done!”
• A glaring decline in service delivery was noted during the most recent council sitting after a report indicated an average seven working days waiting period for the unblocking of drains by the municipality.
The report was issued in a response to a parliamentary question raised by DA Ward Councillor Hennie Niemann.
• A media enquiry was directed at the municipality’s communication office, as well as a request that the Department of Water and Sanitation responds to the resident’s complaint urgently.
No response was received by the time of going to print.
