Flooded dreams for new business owner
Michelle Diamond's home and business were flooded. She described it as though the April floods were localised onto just her home.
AN AMANZIMTOTI woman’s livelihood is under threat after a burst pipe on the embankment opposite her property gushed into her yard, into her home and into her new business.
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On February 1, Michelle Diamond and her tenant were out at the rugby club when her neighbour phoned her, telling her of the carnage that ensued at her home.
“I had checked on my CCTV footage and we saw absolute chaos, and I noted that it started at exactly 21:57. Both neighbours had tried to log calls about it and got no response. We rushed home and as soon as I did, I heard my dog screaming, and ran to save my animals’ lives. Literally no one was coming to help us and I eventually phoned (Ward 97 councillor) André Beetge and asked him to please help us, and then put a voice note onto the local CPF group. Eventually, somebody managed to get a hold of the fire department and after two hours, they managed to shut off the water. It was like the April floods localised into just my property. It has affected my home, my life and my business,” explained Diamond.
December last year was a significant one for Diamond, who soon after leaving her job of 15 years as a group payroll controller, decided it was time to follow her dream. She opened her own business, Diamond Aesthetics, which offered services including tattoo removal, micro needling, teeth whitening and spider vein removal. Fortunately, she had the foresight to keep her machinery on trolleys and was able to wheel these out to safety.
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“All of that require a sterile working environment. I can’t be doing that with sand and nonsense and the destruction that’s been done to all my new furniture. I did so much maintenance. I redid the gardens, repainted my entire home and did everything to make this home look beautiful for clients. It’s devastating and I feel defeated as a homeowner and new business owner,” said Diamond.
She added that at 09:00 the next morning, Municipality workers pitched up, working for most of the day and got water reconnected around 16:30. Since then, she has heard nothing from them. She was not given any explanation as to when the sand on the embankment would be restored, as the pipe is exposed and there is a large hole opposite her home.
Since the incident, the eThekwini Claims Department has sent Diamond a public liability claim form to fill in.
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