Since 2011 residents of Margaret Road and Mary Street in Margate Ext 2 have raised concerns over an overflow flooding their properties.
According to the residents, the water is flowing from a storm water drain underneath the road surface.
For 12 years complaints have been sent to Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM), and to date nothing has been done.
The water gushes like a stream into the backyard of Lot 771, and the owner Bathandwa Fuzile has had to dig trenches to redirect the water from flooding his yard.
Fuzile said when it rains the situation worsens. “My house is damaged including the foundation, walls and furniture. We have been reporting this for 12 years and the only response we were given after technicians came for inspections in 2017 and 2019 was that there were no funds to resolve the matter, and that we had to wait for the next financial year, “said Fuzile.
He said that he is beyond frustrated as many financial years have gone by.
Four houses have been affected, Lots 169, 770,771 and 772. The residents said all they want is for the municipality to come up with a solution, either to re-route the pipe or design a new system for the water to flow away from their homes.
Ward councillor, Alan Bosch said before he was elected councillor, this matter was already known to the municipality and department heads. “I have tried everything and the matter was even brought before council, but nothing is being done.”
Bosch said it’s high time that the municipality does something, either move the residents to new sites as the site is a wetland, and construction should not have been allowed there. “These residents have suffered over the years and a solution has to be reached. One house is completely damaged with cracked walls which one day may even collapse,” said Bosch.
RNM was contacted for comment but none was received at the time of going to print.
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