Preventable flooding angers residents of eMzinoni
Residents have asked the GMM to fix the road and build stormwater drainage to direct water away from their yards, but this never happened.
The residents of Ext 23, eMzinoni, accuse the Govan Mbeki Municipality (GMM) of causing their houses to flood after the recent heavy rain.
These residents say that for the past three years, they have lived in fear when it rains because water floods their yards and houses.
They have asked the GMM to fix the road and build stormwater drainage to direct water away from their yards, but this never happened.
“My house is now in a state of collapse because of rainwater, and I have lost my furniture because of water flooding into my house. We have asked many times for stormwater drainage and road repairs, but we do not get any help,” said Fungi Thenjwayo.
“Municipal employees come, take photos and go. We don’t know their intention behind taking photos whenever our yards and houses are full of water,” said Thenjwayo.
Thembelihle Mkhabela fears her RDP house might collapse because the walls are always wet.
“I cannot sleep at night because the water is causing cracks to form, and I am afraid the house might collapse on top of me. Life is difficult for me, especially when it rains.
“We have endured this for years. I am always scared when I see clouds forming. I have to scoop buckets of water from my house when it rains.
“Why is it so difficult for the municipality to fix the road and add stormwater drainage for us? I have even lost all my furniture because of water that flooded my house when it rained,” said Mkhabela.
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Donald Green, the GMM media liaison and content development officer, said the municipality, through its Department of Roads and Stormwater, had devised a plan to tackle a backlog of road-related defects across the municipality, with special attention to stormwater infrastructure as it continues raining.
Green said the maintenance plan includes unblocking kerb inlets, reinstating collapsed drain covers, cleaning stormwater channels, catching pits and re-gravelling roads, among other issues.
Green also said they prioritised the remedial works to address the current challenges in eMzinoni and prevent further damage to critical infrastructure.
“Flooding is a public safety issue that affects entire communities during the rainy season. The municipality encourages the communities to refrain from dumping into the stormwater drainage system because it results in unnecessary blockages, which leads to flooding,” said Green.
