Resident seeks answers over Firwood Road pool leak
Harish Budhoo alleges that a leak from the municipal pool, has caused substantial damage to his garage and two outbuildings, one of which his brother and family live in.
A REDHILL resident said he is in limbo in a claims case against the eThekwini Municipality for damages caused to his property, due to a leak at the Firwood Road pool.
Harish Budhoo alleges that a leak from the municipal pool, which has been closed since 2017, has caused substantial damage to his garage and two outbuildings, one of which his brother and family live in.
The pool has been drained and empty for the last six years.
Budhoo said he started correspondence with the city in 2015 to alert them to the problem.
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He further alleges that large cracks in the foundation of the garage, mould and dampness in the two outbuildings, as well as structural damage, was a result of the leak.
“This property is directly across the road from Firwood Road pool. What is concerning is that the claims department from the municipality says the onus is on me to prove the damage is due to the pool. How can I do that when the pool has been drained since 2017?
“The other thing to ask is why was the pool closed. The municipality themselves say the pool was closed to determine the extent of the leaks and fix the pool. So that says to me there was a leak. The damage done to the buildings on my property, were done when the leak began at my home,” he said.
Budhoo said he fears for the safety of his family.
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“We estimate the damages to be more than R2.5m and I feel the structural integrity of the buildings have been compromised. I have a file complete with the evidence I’ve collected including an affidavit from the Firwood Road pool supervisor that the pool was being filled on a daily basis, due to the leak. My parents are pensioners and they are being treated unfairly in this instance,” he said.
Budhoo feels that in order to address the problem, the municipality should refill the pool which will show the extent of the leaks.
Despite repeated attempts, there has been no response from the eThekwini Municipality.
