Video: Pipe leak chaos in Middelburg as workers retreat from angry homeowner
A burst pipe flooded a Middelburg home as workers fled an aggressive resident, forcing police to intervene and delaying emergency repairs.
Municipal workers responding to a burst pipe had to scatter from a confrontational resident, leaving his home in Aerorand West, Middelburg, flooded.
Middelburg Observer reports that according to a resident from Umfolozi Street, Wilson Letoka, a serious burst pipe resulted in the flooding of his neighbour’s garage yesterday evening, leaving the homeowner so agitated that municipal workers fled from him.
According to Letoka, the burst pipe was reported early yesterday evening, with workers from the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality’s water and sanitation department arriving at the scene at around 20:30.
“Four men and a lady, all in green overalls, arrived, and they started by closing the two main supply valves as well as opening a fire hydrant to reduce the water pressure,” Letoka says.
Letoka alleges that the closure of the water supply did little to alleviate the leak, which had worsened despite several homes in the street not having water.
“Residents became agitated, and the municipal workers had to run and take cover, then drive off. The police were then informed and came to rescue the woman who was left behind,” Letoka says.
Letoka then helped his neighbour dig a trench to redirect the water, which was flooding the garage, into the street.
“The police came back later … around 22:00, bringing back a spade which the fleeing workers took, and informed residents that the leak would be fixed in the morning as the municipal workers were fearing for their lives.”
According to Letoka, the workers are at the site repairing the leak, but several houses are without water.
DA ward councillor Hennie Niemann confirms the department of water and sanitation started repairs again this morning, but cannot provide an estimated restoration time.
“I understand residents’ frustrations, but if they were not confrontational, the burst pipe would have been restored last night.”
Niemann informs residents that the municipality responds to repairs according to the order in which they are reported.
“Water and electricity complaints are addressed according to the list of complaints, and the municipality does not favour certain residents by responding to certain complaints first,” Niemann concludes.
Watch the video:
@middelburgobserver Municipal workers fled last night after residents became agitated over a burst pipe that flooded a residential garage in Aerorand.
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Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
