Umtamvuna Views: Community steps up
In the midst of the flood, neighbours checked on each other and helped each other.
Feast or famine springs to mind with reference to the ongoing water woes. Just a week ago residents were mopping up their homes from the devastating flooding that occurred all the way from Durban, through the South Coast and into the Eastern Cape.
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Homes collapsed, roads were washed away and a mountain of garbage (mainly plastic bottles) was washed up on our beautiful beaches. That was the ‘feast’, followed immediately by the virtual collapse of our municipal water supply.
Some areas of Port Edward and Leisure Bay have not had water for six days. Every day there seems to be a different reason as to why there is no water in the taps. The main culprit seems to be the underwater cage in the Umtamvuna River that is blocked with silt and flood debris, resulting in a very weak pump performance in filling the reservoirs. The ‘famine’ continues with dedicated Ugu staff working long and hard to rectify the disaster.
Community effort
After the heavy torrential rains left litter scattered all along our coast Ann-Sophi Santos, Paulo da Rosa and Irene Schanda from the Trafalgar Ratepayers’ Association sprang into action and organised a clean-up along Trafalgar beach. It was well supported and amazing to see the community come together. Residents, holidaymakers and beachcombers all joined in to help clean up the beach, filling over 70 bags
Team work
In a crisis sometimes amazing things happen. In the midst of the disaster, neighbours checked on and helped each other.
People who were marooned on their properties were ferried to shops and appointments. Residents were seen wielding shovels in the rain, trying to dig trenches and to fill gaping holes in the roads.
People pulled together! Once again, our cluster of little villages showed their true colours in making a huge effort to put things right. Residents, ratepayers’ associations, conservancy groups, schools and individuals deserve a great big hug. Well done to all of you who have gone, and continue to go, beyond all reasonable expectations. Hopefully all will be back to normal very soon.
All news to Philippa
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