Upper Highway stormwater drain causes extensive damage
The family fears that the house will fall on them as it has cracks all over.
AN upgrade, from a gravel to tar road, that was expected to provide a KwaNyuswa family will relief has turned into a nightmare for them and their community.
Nomasonto Cele said the past few years have been filled with numerous challenges including the increase in cracks which stems from the flooding each time it rains.
Apart from the cracks, huge sinkholes have developed and the furniture has also been damaged.
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According to Cele, the problems began when a stormwater drain was erected in front of their four-room house when the gravel was being replaced with tar.
Describing her ordeal, the 50-year-old said the stormwater drainage system in Manqoba Road is causing serious damage to their house.
“With the gravel, there was always dust in our houses so we were excited. I was born and grew up in this area so the change from gravel to tar was a big thing for us and felt special.
When my neighbour asked them (eThekwini Municipality) about this drain, they said they were going to return to make sure it does not give the family any problems in the future,” said Cele.
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The distraught mother said their countless attempts to receive help from the eThekwini Municipality has yielded no results as every time plumbers come out, they look at the the damage with shock.
According to Cele, the only response they provide is that they are not equipped to sort it out and they will escalate the matter.
“Our furniture is damaged as the water just pops up underneath the house whenever it rains. We fear for our lives now. Must the house collapse on us before anything is done?” asked Cele.
Cele added the water gushes, for hours, into their property causing vast damage within the house and well as the external areas of the property.
“It has been years, we are desperately in need of urgent intervention, we can not live like this,” she said.
The Highway Mail’s attempts to obtain a comment from the municipality proved futile at the time of going to print.
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