Mamelodi residents left hopeless by persistent flooding
“We are experiencing water leaks in almost all the flats units and the problem had started when we moved in February 2020.”
Beneficiaries living at the family flat units in Mamelodi East ext. 5, next to Matimba Sinqobile Integrated Centre, are feeling hopeless after their flats were repeatedly flooded because of persistent heavy rains.
“Since the rain started, there are leaks everywhere in our apartment,” said resident Rich Chauke (57), who is epileptic.
“We have been sweeping rainwater out of our flats since last week and we are tired of doing it every single day.”
Residents complained that they always wake up in flooded apartments.
“The water leaks start from the third floor through the rooftop into our flats.”
Chauke said the Block 4 family flat units were the most affected by the rain.
About 18 families said that their flats were flooded following the rains that started last week.
“We are experiencing water leaks in almost all the units. The problem started when we moved in here in February 2020,” said Chauke.
He said “almost all the residents” have complained about the water leaks from the rooftop, trapdoors, ceiling, floor, windows and door frames.
“Everything is falling apart. We are living in fear of the whole block of flats collapsing on top of us since rain is slowly damaging the walls and floor foundations.
“We hope the weather will subside soon so as not to damage the flats any more.”
Another resident, Nomsa Zwane, said she woke up in an apartment flooded with water last week.
“My furniture has been damaged and the municipality doesn’t want to help me at all and my problem can’t be solved without any outside help,” she said.
“We have launched complaints with the community liaison officer, flat committee members as well as the local ward councillor.
“Our houses are flooded like dams, but the municipal workers and councillors cannot help us at all. Our furniture and walls are damaged because it continuously leaks every time it rains.”
The apartment block previously made the news in January 2019 when about 100 people invaded the block after it was only about 97% finished.
The Tshwane metro managed to get an eviction order and authorities managed to evict all illegal occupants with their belongings from the premises.
Some residents believe that the apartment may have been damaged by the invaders back then.
Following the eviction, the rightful beneficiaries started moving in right away with the help of the metro’s human settlements department.
The beneficiaries pleaded with the Tshwane metro to intervene as soon as possible “before disaster strikes”.
Rekord is still awaiting comment from the metro.
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