Several families in Tshepo Street in Ext. 7, Ikageng are fuming after torrential rains have flooded their homes and damaged their furniture in the past months.
The families say that, for them, the rain has become a nightmare instead of a blessing and the J.B. Marks Local Municipality just acts like a spectator.
During the downpours and rain-storms, the houses have flooded, leaving fridges, stoves, washing machines, beds, cupboards and couches damaged.
They told the Herald on Monday that they had reported this to their ward councillor. She allegedly said she was not responsible for the flooding and reminded them that they were not the only ones who had been affected.
Nthabiseng Maria Shuping (57), one of the victims, says the problem lies in the storm water blockages. ‘There is so much debris and sand in the storm water drainage system that the water cannot flow through it properly. This, in turn, has caused the water to flow into our homes,’ she said.
Shuping, who suffers from arthritis and heart problems, says the situation affects her health badly.
‘I have had to throw out a lot of my furniture and my stove and fridges do not work anymore,’ she lamented.
Her next-door neighbour, 51-year-old Mathapelo Anna Mini says her stove, cupboards, three fridges and three beds have been damaged. She has to use a paraffin stove to cook. ‘My children have to sleep on the floor because we have lost all our beds. A neighbour donated a bed for me and my husband,’ she said hopelessly.
She smiles wryly and says she ‘swims in the house’. ‘I have to rush home every time the clouds begin to gather. I’m scared that my children will die in that house,’ she says.
Meme Phoyane (34) stays in the corner house and says they are the hardest hit because the floods start there. ‘When it rains, we cannot go to the toilet because we might slip in the pool of water and injure ourselves. We always have to replace furniture after the flooding. In September, there will be more torrential rains and I don’t know how we are going to manage,’ she says. She is demanding a new house.
All the affected families want the municipality to fix their appliances and furniture.
Stone Matlhabe, the former councillor, says these ‘leaders’ fail and disrespect the community. ‘Our people are suffering. No one cares about them. These politicians focus on their pockets and have forgotten who elected them into positions of power,’ he said.
* The spokesperson for the J.B. Marks Municipality had not responded to the Herald’s enquiries by the time of print.
