Untreated groundwater decays houses
The residents of Mayitane complain that the municipality has been making empty promises.
KwaThema – The residents of Mayetane Section in White City have raised complaints about groundwater that decays their houses.
The water slowly decays the walls of their houses and makes the electricity spark during rainy seasons.
The problem is a result of the area naturally having high levels of groundwater.
Eric Xuza, a member of the street committee in the area, says more than 22 houses are on the brink of collapse.
He explains that they have raised the issue with the municipality but nothing has been done.
“The water is affecting our health, and ruining our houses.
“Two people have had their legs amputated already because the ground is too cold,” said Xuza.
Nkosana Lukhele, also a resident in the area, says he went to the municipal office to report the matter.
He says the director of the KwaThema Customer Care Centre (CCC), Gift Mashiya, came and inspected the area and promised to rebuild one house that has already collapsed, but the house is still in the same condition.
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Ward 79 councillor Zwelibanzi Ngwenya says: “They bought the material to rebuild the house and took it to the area but it was stolen.”
However, Mashiya denies ever promising the residents that the house would be rebuilt.
“There is a municipal project aimed at rebuilding the houses like we have started in Phomolo Section,” says Mashiya.
He adds they still need to allocate a budget for the White City area and it first needs to be approved at the provincial level.
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Ngwenya says they only received one report of a collapsing house and the 21 other residents have not brought their reports to him.
He encouraged anyone whose house is showing signs of collapsing to come to him as the Department of Human Settlements is still conducting their own investigations into the matter.
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