Home collapses after heavy rain
While the past weeks' heavy rains were welcomed by most people, one family faces trying times thanks to the collapse of their home due to the rain.
POLOKWANE – While the past weeks’ heavy rains were welcomed by most people, one family faces trying times thanks to the collapse of their home due to the rain.
Joseph Manamela and his family will never forget Tuesday April 8, the day on which two of of the outer walls of their home in Ladanna Street collapsed early in the morning. According to Manamela, the rain caused homemade bricks to absorb moisture and to collapse under the weight of the other bricks and roof.
“The property had been left to us by my father-in-law and the front part of the home had been standing for more than six years. It seems that with the heavy rains, the foundations gave way. We are just grateful that no one got hurt and the reconstruction of the walls will be done soon,” Manamela said.
Manamela is a part-time building contractor with no fixed income. It is expected that the rebuilding of the two walls and foundation will take up to four months to complete.
Manamela makes his own bricks and says he is looking forward to rebuilding his home, especially the room that will serve as a bedroom for his five-year-old son.
“Money is the only problem in these times, I have the skill to rebuild the rooms but I’ll have to do a lot of gardening and handyman jobs to make enough money to do so.”
Polokwane Municipality spokesperson, Matshidisho Mothapo, said there were no irregularities regarding the previously-built portion of the house and reconstructing would still comply with the previous house plan.
“Prospecting renovators and enlargers of homes must make sure they comply with all regulations and ensure safety precautions are taken into account,” Mothapo said.
The municipality’s spatial planning department can be contacted at (015) 290 2093.
