Danger lurks in Thushanang, purportedly due to a malfunctioning water line
Despite many complaints to the municipality regarding Gogo Mabena and other affected households the municipality has taken no action yet.
Sarah Mabena, an 82-year-old gogo from Thushanang Extension 4, is still appealing for help after one of her house rooms collapsed last year, purportedly due to a pipe that was leaking underneath.
Despite several complaints to the municipality, supposedly nothing has been done to remedy the problem.
Mabena reported that it has now been a year since the tragedy on June 6, 2022, and that authorities from Emalahleni Local Municipality, as well as the mayor, have visited her collapsed house multiple times.
But all they did was come check on her and then depart without doing anything, so she keeps reporting and hoping for the best.
Mabena expresses concern for her own and her family’s safety. “I wake up every day afraid that the rest of my house will collapse on top of me; I’m at a loss for what to do. I’ve been pleading for assistance for months, but no one seems to be interested.”
What bothers her most is a hole adjacent to the house with a pipe that is a hazard to her and her children, especially when it rains, because the hole fills up with water from the pipe and continues to damage the house.
Other community members have come forward in solidarity to share similar stories of danger on the horizon.
Many people have observed cracks in their homes that they believe are caused by the same subsurface pipe.
They claim to have reported the problem to the municipality as well but have received no good response.
People say they are tired of waiting for action.
They want to take action at the municipal offices to demand that the problem be solved.
WITBANK NEWS sent a questionnaire to Emalahleni Local Municipality spokesperson Mr Lebohang Mofokeng, who has yet to respond.
Do you have a story to share?
Please send us an email to info@witbanknews.co.za or phone us on 013 656 2490
- For more breaking and community news, visit Witbank News’ website www.witbanknews.co.za
- For more news and articles, like WITBANK NEWS on Facebookor
follow us on Twitter or Instagram
