Storm over water drainage

KWADUBE Village residents say while decision makers pass the buck, their homes are continually flooded following the removal of storm water drainage.

At the root of the problem is road construction from eSikhaleni to eMpembeni.

‘During heavy rains last month, residents suffered flooding on their properties because there is no system to control the water flow.

‘It entered their homes and destroyed their furniture. I had to request the Richards Bay Disaster team to assist and drain the water,’ said KwaDube Village Induna, Patrick Shazi.

Angry homeowners shared their frustrations with the Zululand Observer in a highly emotional meeting last week.

They said builders removed the piping system after an agreement to re-install them once the construction was completed.

‘They removed our fences, poles and gates to widen the road, but now nothing has been done to replace these. My gate was removed and was then stolen the same night. Criminals now waltz into my yard,’ said frustrated 39-year-old Zodwa Zanele Zulu.

‘I have asked the construction company about my poles and gate, but their project coordinator was very rude. He said they will not replace my ‘cheap gate’ and I had go get over it,’ she said.

While responsible parties are pointing fingers at each other, residents have threatened to take legal actions.

‘Someone have to take responsibility. When I came back from hospital in my my wheelchair, I could not enter my flooded home. I had to ask help from relatives,’ said 70-year-old KwaDube Village resident, Busisiwe Nhlebela.

Nhlebela said her electricity cables, wall unit and other house appliances were destroyed during the floods.

The construction company said they were just following instructions from the road planners.

‘We did not come up with the plan, we just did what we were told. The road belongs to the Department of Transport,’ the company said in a statement.