Water floods the surface of eMalahleni
The municipality is calling on the private sector to come on board and assist with the relief of the affected communities
After some serious heat waves and a few long dry months the heavens opened over eMalahleni.
The drops started to fall a week ago and finally came to a stop earlier this week.
In some areas such as Siyanqoba on the old Verena Road and Phola Location the rain has done more harm than good.
Residents in Siyanqoba reported that their homes are flooded.
“There is an old ‘madala’ in one of the homes that can’t even open or close his door, he has to climb through his window,” explained Mpumi, a resident from Siyanqoba.
When walking in Siyanqoba, it looks like the homes are standing in the middle of a dam.
Water has completely filled the area.
“Another house, where a mom and her baby live is also completely flooded. The floors are filled with the water,” Mpumi further explained.
The residents blame this disaster on bad infrastructure and a lack of proper planning when the RDP homes were built.
On Monday, December 9 WITBANK NEWS headed out to this community to see how bad the situation was.
When walking in Siyanqoba, the water came up to your knees.
Emalahleni Local Municipality said they sympathise with all businesses and households that lost property or suffered destruction because of floods.
“Our disaster management together with the districts management team needs to be commended for their swift response to evacuate people, because more danger to the lives of the people could have been realized,” Mr Lebo Mofokeng municipal spokesperson said.
“We would like to invite other stakeholders to work with us in a form of social relief, repair of infrastructure and repairs to damaged houses,” Mofokeng said.
According to him the municipality is calling for the Department of Social Development to provide counseling services to the families who have suffered or affected directly as a result of the floods.
Supply food parcels, home cooked meals that can be accessed through the soup kitchens, tents for temporary shelter, blankets, mattresses and clothing.
Mofokeng added that the municipality would like to ensure the public that the municipality will do everything in its power to prevent further loss of property and will ensure a comprehensive and result-driven relief to all affected families.
The municipality is calling on the private sector to come on board and assist with the relief of the affected communities.
During this period it is requested that communities stay calm and report all incidents to the municipal call centre at 013 690 6222/6333/6444.
WITBANK NEWS also did a survey to see how much rain was received in different areas of our community.
• Melony Janse van Noordwyk measured a total of 200mm rain in Die Heuwel x1
• Marietjie Coetzee measured a total of 149mm rain in Del Judor x1
• Rudi Odendaal measured a total of 220mm rain in Del Judor Proper
• Francois Van der Merwe measured a total of 234mm rain in Zaaihoek
• Christel van Wyk measured a total of 187mm rain in Del Judor x2
• Heila van der Merwe measured a total of 170mm rain in Tasbet Park
On Tuesday, December 10 the Witbank Dam reached a level of 97% full and four sluice gates were opened.
It was the first time that the sluices were opened in 2019.
