Ekurhuleni rocked by freak storm, residents give their views
The extreme weather caused havoc in the city, last week.
With heavy rain lashing Ekurhuleni last week, many residents suffered damage to their properties and some even experienced flooding.
Wednesday’s storm saw flash floods which resulted in the deaths of a number of people.
According to the metro, Germiston was not as hard hit as some other areas of Ekurhuleni, including Edenvale, Benoni and Boksburg.
Mayoral spokesman Zweli Dlamini said, “We provided emergency relief to 105 people who were displaced when their informal structures were flooded in the Makause informal settlement in Primrose.
“However, they refused temporary accommodation in fear of losing their belongings which remained trapped in their structures.”
He added that tailings dams, which were overflowing due to the flooding in the Knights and Makause areas, were also a major threat to residents.
A technical team made up of Ekurhuleni, Gauteng provincial government and the departments of water and mining resources went to assess the situation and determine possible intervention.
Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) remain on high alert.
Chantel Rossouw shared her frightening experience with the GCN.
“It was around 5.15pm when I went to pick my daughter up from Breinmeester Akademie aftercare when I hit the rain. As I drove into the school yard in Richard Avenue I could hardly see in front of me.
“After I picked her up and tried to go home, I was afloat in Richard Avenue.
“I had no control over the car. My daughter tried to help me get the windows clean so I could see and go with the stream to try and get back onto the school premises.
“I got back in and parked the car, and told my daughter to sit in the front seat. The water came up to the middle of the car door and as I looked behind me I just saw pieces of wall coming down. Between watching slabs of wall and big rocks coming down, I told my daughter who was hysterical at this time, to stay calm and not to sit too close to the window.
“We could feel the rocks hitting the car and even going under the car.
“My daughter just prayed to get home safely.
“After the storm calmed down some of the teachers and I began to move the debris out of the way which was blocking the exit and entrance to the school.
“The road was still under water so we had to exit using the Kraft Road entrance to the school.
“It was a scary feeling knowing you don’t have control over the situation.
“I am just thankful that no one was injured.”
Ralph and Dawn Henderson from Castleview told the GCN they were sick and tired of their complaints about flooding in their street, Mowgli Street, falling on deaf ears.
“This has been ongoing for the last four years and we have even lost a car due to flooding in our street.
“We have decided to sell up in Germiston and move to another town,” they said.
Residents commented on Facebook, sharing their experiences:
- Emmerson Nyanhewe said, “Eish we were stuck in traffic from 6pm on Wednesday evening near the Linksfield bridge on the N3 and people lost their lives and cars were flooded.”
- Beatrice Bea Barbeli said, “Flooded garage, studio and yard both sides and to add to that the neighbour’s wall fell down on our side.”
- Chantelle Van der Vyver said, “Our lapa flooded.”
Many residents expressed their appreciation to others for helping during the storm and flooding.
Ward 92 councillor Tiziana Burtone (now Plaskitt) thanked emergency services, metro departments and community members for putting in hours of work to help people during the flash flooding.
“Metro teams were sent out, emergency services, community members, CPF members and community watch groups all assisted those who were left stranded or needed assistance,” she said.
Others tried to look on the brighter side of the extreme weather and Marlands residents Lucas Coetzer and Pie Badenhorst took the opportunity to practice their fishing.
A video of the pair was uploaded to YouTube and they can be seen laughing in the rain with their fishing rods as water swirls around them.
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