Rain both blessing and curse
After months of droughts and prayers for rain, water came down with meaning over eMalahleni this last weekend.
After months of droughts and prayers for rain, water came down with meaning over eMalahleni this last weekend.
On Friday, March 11 the residents were in abuzz about the flooded roads.
In Second Avenue, Blanchville a bridge collapsed while houses in the surrounding areas were starting to overflow due to the heavy rains.
A resident Mr Edmond Alhers has been living in the Blanchville area for 34 years.
“This is not the first time that the bridges here overflow, but it’s definitely the worst we’ve ever seen,” said Alhers.
The damaged wall of Mr Lee Janse van Rensburg’s house. It was washed away with the heavy floods the past weekend.
Mr Lee Janse van Rensburg, house was literally under water when water washed away the walls of his home and entertainment area.
“It’s a lot of damage. I do not know what I would have done if I did not have insurance, the water always comes through my yard but this time the water damaged my yard, fencing and braai area,” said Janse van Rensburg.
The palisades Ms Dina Pienaar’s home that has fallen down to the ground due to the heavy rains on March 11.
Many houses were lucky and were not influenced by any water that caused damage but were left with roads to their homes, barely usable.
“Avril Street is not a tar road anymore but more like a gravel road. It’s just potholes in potholes,” said another angry resident.
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The water almost filled up Ms Dina Pienaar’s house in Raadsaal Street because of the floods of this past weekend.
Some of the residents suffered lots of damage like, Ms Dina Pienaar that suffered a second water disaster.
“About four years ago we had a flood. We had some damage but it was not as much damage as it is now,” said Pienaar.
Both the Pienaars’ cars were flooded, along with all their furniture and their whole house.
“I cannot describe how grateful I am for everyone that helped me and my husband the night of the floods. Witbank 911, my children and grandchildren and the people of the community that helped us remove most of the water or only made tea, thank you. Even to the lady that bought her own vacuum cleaner and got all of the water out of our vehicles. All we can do is be grateful,” said Pienaar.
The strong flood even washed away some residents’ driveway in Avril Street that occurred on Friday, March 11.
According to the Municipal Manager, Mr Theo van Vuuren’s social site, there are more than eight homes that had to be evacuated in eMalahleni and the residents had to spend the night in the Town Hall.
The following streets were flooded on the corner of OR Tambo and Gordon Drive, Esta Street, Wattle Street, Prinsberg Avenue, Gerda Street and the old Middelburg Road (R555).
“The floods may have caused damage but still we have to remain grateful for the rain that has descended on us,” said a resident Mr Christiaan Swanepoel.
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