Residents are pointing fingers at the municipality after heavy rains flooded at least eight homes in Westergloor. They believe more could have been done to prevent it.
One of the families whose home was hit hard by the floods on Friday January 14 said the water damage is quite extensive.
Also read: Yellow level 2 weather warning issued for Gauteng
Denise Meyer, 54, who has been living in her house for 26 years said flooding is nothing new as it happens almost every year. However, she pointed out to the Herald that her and other residents’ pleas with the Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) to attend to infrastructure issues such as blocked drains fall on deaf ears. She added that after each flooding event government brings food parcels without assisting them any further.
They never say anything about the disaster relief fund. The only entity that came out to help was a church to pump out the water, but how long can this go on? We can’t keep getting heart attacks every time it rains,” Meyer said.
The unemployed Meyer said the problem started a few years ago after the storm water pipes that were installed on Potgieter Street became blocked. The two backrooms she is renting out – her only source of income – have been flooded and damaged as well.
She said at about 01:00 they realised the water levels were rising rapidly.
“We panicked and started sending WhatsApp messages to people for help. My daughter’s car was also flooded,” she said.
Meyer added that she would have to replace their wooden floors, appliances and pavements; she’s expecting to pay at least R10 000 to fix her flooring.
I’m worried about the damage because I haven’t been working for the past seven years. Although I no longer pay the bond for the house, I couldn’t afford paying for the insurance, I had to cancel it.”
When visiting the area, the Herald found one of her neighbours, Thabile Maseli, who had no choice but to sleep in a room that had been flooded as well.
“I arrived home late only to be met by water flushing out as soon as I opened the door. It’s really terrible to live like this; no human being is supposed to live like this. We need help,” Maseli said.
The Herald has reached out to the municipality for comment but they have yet to respond.
