Several businesses in the Eastleigh area face uncertainty and possible closure as a result of the damage caused by the November 9 floods.
Gallery: Business clean-up operations kick off
Bedfordview one of worst hit areas
Eastleigh in Edenvale was one of the hardest hit areas and business owners are feeling frustrated and saddened by the extent of the damage that has befallen them.
Many of the local businesses had to witness products, equipment and property being damaged because of the water
Floods – Eastleigh businesses face closure after flood damage
Mr Chike Entonye, who together with his cousin owns a barbershop/hair salon, said he does not know what to do anymore.
“All my documents have been lost. Since the rain I am now homeless and shopless, everything is gone I am very frustrated by all of this,” said Mr Entonye.
He said in the past four years that he has had his shop in the Eastleigh area, this was the second time in two weeks he had been affected by the heavy rains.
Mr Entonye, like many other business owners in the area, believes that a lack of maintenance on the stormwater infrastructure and the Eastleigh Spruit not being able to cope with the amount of water contributed to the heavy flooding.
“All hope is lost,” said Mr Entonye.
Like Mr Entonye, Ms Molly Nasando who owns a takeaway shop, believes the infrastructure and the river in Eastleigh cannot cope with the rain.
“There is poor drainage in the Eastleigh area,” said Ms Nasando.
She said this is not the first time she has been affected by the flooding in the one and a half years she has been working in the area.
“I will have to consider moving, I can’t close my shop. At this moment I am just hoping for the best,” said Ms Nasando.
Just down the way from Mr Entonye and Ms Nasando was a business complex where businesses along the Eastleigh Spruit were also affected by flooding.
Mr Dave van der Vyver, who has had his business for 20 years, said this is not the first time flooding has happened.
“This time of year is our busiest time of year – we have a lot of orders to fulfil,” said Mr Van der Vyver.
He said his business has suffered massive damages and he does not think he will be able to fulfil all his orders.
“Because of the draught the stormwater drains got jammed up with litter,” said Mr van der Vyver.
Cupboard installation business owner Mrs Sandy Bingham said she has lost millions as a result of the floods.
“I feel so miserable and despondent,” said Mrs Bingham.
She said this has been “a hell of a setback” and although she had not finished removing all of the damaged products, Mrs Bingham said the damage was by far the worst it has ever been.
On Central Avenue, Trade Motors situated alongside the Eastleigh Spruit, also suffered damages to the business property and to the vehicles which were there for repairs.
Mr Clinton Schmidt, a worker at Trade Motors, said he is speechless about what had happened as a result of the rain.
“It is very upsetting,” said Mr Schmidt.
#Floods – Eastleigh businesses face closure after flood damage
Gallery: Business clean-up operations in full swing
Business owner Mr Roelof van Aarde said he does not know what the future holds for him or the business.
“We have to clean up and start again from fresh,” said Mr Van Aarde.
Bystanders at the Plantation Road bridge said they were shocked to see the damage
Mr Dean Ginsburg said the damage was unreal and he was shocked with what he saw.
“This is stuff you see in a movie – not in real life. I feel so sorry for all the families affected by this,” said Mr Ginsburg.
The NEWS requested comment from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality by November 14 at 9am. No comment has been received.
Multimedia: Video and gallery of the devastation from yesterday’s floods
#Floods Gallery: Residents band together to clean up after devastating floods
Floods – Death toll rises to 2
