Mams water reservoir overflows, causes serious damage

An overflowing water reservoir damaged the front and back perimeter wall as well as flooded the Mabusela family home in Mamelodi on Sunday morning.

The house in Dube Street, Mamelodi East section SNS is not far from the reservoir that overflows regularly.

Patrick Mabusela (58) said he thought it was raining outside when he heard running water in his yard.

He went outside to investigate, only to find out the reservoir was overflowing and the water was coming down the mountain into his yard.

He recalled it was around 04:00 and all he could do was grab a spade to dig a trench for the water to freely flow past his house and car garage.

He said he could do nothing except watch the water wash the perimeter wall at the back and front of his house away.

Mabusela said he suspected the overflow problem was caused by illegal water connections inside the reservoir or lack of maintenance because this was not the first time the reservoir had overflowed.

“It has been overflowing for years but my house had never flooded but since the invasion of the land next to the reservoir, the overflow changed direction towards my house.

“Previously the overflow went in the opposite direction to our houses.”

Mabusela said it was terrible to witness such a tragedy and there is nothing one can do other than watch.

“When the water took down a big perimeter wall within seconds, I was sure my house would be swept away – thank God that didn’t happen,” he said,

He said obviously whatever was wrong at the reservoir was the responsibility of the Tshwane metro to fix “permanently”.

“I do not even feel safe here anymore because the metro cannot tell me when the next overflow will be or what the problem is.

The local councillor was made aware of the situation and visited my house but said his hands were tied due to the municipal strike. He promised to get the relevant people to come out to the reservoir.

Mabusela said he recently spent a lot of money building a new front perimeter wall, which the overflow damaged within seconds.

He said he did not know the extent of the damage to his furniture yet and demanded to know who would fix the problem since he had reported it.

In 2018 in the same area, the Tefo family in Thibela Street experienced a similar disaster.

The homeowner has since died but his family blamed the metro for the disaster saying that to date it was still waiting for compensation.

“The then local councillor was notified of the situation but has failed to attend to the problem,” the family said.

They added the problem started in 2005 and a succession of councillors had all been unwilling to help.

Furthermore, concerned residents recently called on the Tshwane metro to prioritise safety at the Mamelodi Reservoir 4 as vandalism had resulted in water contamination.

The residents said the metal lids that covered the reservoir had been stolen and the water they drank was exposed to all forms of contaminants.

Oupa Mtshweni of Mamelodi Concerned Residents for Service Delivery said vandalism had been persistent for more than 10 years.

“The metro’s main concern is that people of Mamelodi must pay for service delivery and are issuing final letters of demand to those who are unable to pay,” said Mtshweni.

He said other problems at the reservoir included a lack of access control, missing or stolen valves and cut-off or removed steel stairs to the top of the reservoir.

“Anyone can come at any time and pour poison into the water killing all Mamelodi residents at once,” said Mtshweni.

Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said, “The Mamelodi R3 reservoir did overflow on September 10 and was attended to”.

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