Madadeni under siege by flood waters

Blaming the floods on a lack of drainage and a nearby pedestrian bridge which dammed up water, she explained her father had approached the municipality numerous times for assistance.

February 6, 2018

Bruce Douglas 1 minute read

The resident noted inadequate drainage caused water to dam up and flood nearby houses.

Madadeni residents are fearful more rains will wash them away for good.

After the violent storms last Thursday, one resident said she was frightened more heavy rains would flood her house yet again.

This problem dates back to at least before 2009.

“Every time it rains, water comes into the kitchen. Yesterday it was in every room of the house.”

The resident shares a home with her young daughter and an unemployed uncle, following the tragic death of her parents in 2016.

With her father gone, she is the family’s sole breadwinner.

Blaming the floods on a lack of drainage and a nearby pedestrian bridge which dammed up water, she explained her father had approached the municipality numerous times for assistance.

“He went to the municipality many times, even to public meetings. One year, the Mayor [Afzul Rehman] was in the area for a budgetary meeting. My father reported the matter on the same day as a big storm. The Mayor came with officials and promise to help, but nothing was ever done.”

The resident added this year’s rains were among the heaviest, and vowed to never forget the day and the damage wrought.

She has appealed to anyone for help.

By Saturday evening, the rains had fallen again and the resident expressed fear the flooding was just a matter of time.

Yet she was not the only victim.

On Sunday morning, more residents contacted the Newcastle Advertiser for help after torrential rains in the past week flooded many houses across Madadeni.

The Madadeni Hospital was also flooded at one point.

With the Department of Community Safety on full alert following the storm, it was a confirmed disaster, with wind speeds of 120 kilometres per hour recorded.

Numerous roads in Madadeni and oSizweni were washed away.

The department remains on stand-by for further rains to come, and has also begun clean-up operations around the greater Newcastle area.