Collapsed pavement frustrates Woodlands resident

AN elderly woman in Woodlands is helpless and frustrated after being given the run around by the municipality.

A collapsed pavement outside Haseema Kadwa’s, 60, house resulted in a big hole. Subsequently, heavy rains cascaded sand into her Glanville Road home which did a lot of damage to the house.

“The last time it rained it damaged all my things. Our house guard who stays in the cellar even got stuck inside because the sand slid down and jammed the door. It damaged all my things in the cellar including the staircase and broke my swing outside. Then there was a big hole on the pavement just outside my fence,” she said.

She made contact with ward 64 councillor, Gavin Hegter, who gave her a claims form to fill out and submit.

“He was really forthcoming. I told him I am also concerned about children from neighbouring schools falling inside the hole. He sent somebody out but I was not at home on that day.

“They then proceeded to fill up the hole with stones.  According to my neighbours, who saw them, instead of using shovels to fill it up, they reversed towards the hole and tipped the truck.

“This damaged my fence in the process. She then went back to the councillor and received another claim form. This time, she was advised to get a contractor to assess the damage and was later advised to get two more contractors for quotations.

“Nobody wants to come to do that because it is a municipality job. They tell us the municipality delays payments and everybody is running at a loss.

“Some contractors wanted R3000 to do a quotation. I don’t have money, my daughter doesn’t work either, where will we get money? I’m also using so much money to phone and run around to get this issue sorted. The people who damaged my fence did not even offer an explanation or apology for the damage.

“I have been running to the municipality trying to get this issue sorted. This happened on Wednesday, 24 February. I’ve received no joy from this. I just have to sit like this. How can the municipality send someone to fix a problem and end up creating another? It’s been a two-month-long wait and I still no answers,” she said.

Councillor Hegter said the Roads and Storm Water Department dispatched a standby team to secure the area after the pavement’s collapse.

“The sidewalk was temporarily filled by the department. Unfortunately, while this was being done, further damage was caused to the resident’s property.

“I have been working to get the department to attend to the repairs of which they still have not. I advised the resident that the municipality is not legally permitted to undertake any repairs to private property.

“I supplied her with the municipal insurance claim form and advised on the process she needs to follow. I will continue to pressurise the department to attend to the repairs of the sidewalk,” he said.  

Attempts to obtain a comment from the eThekwini Municipality proved futile at the time this article was published.

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