The much-needed rain over the past few weeks was great news for farmers but has been a nightmare for Lingelihle residents.
The much-needed rain over the past few weeks was great news for farmers but has been a nightmare for Lingelihle residents.
Yesterday, residents in the area woke up to discover their furniture floating in pools of water and that some mud houses had collapsed under the heavy downpours of Wednedsay night.
When Grocott's Mail visited the area, residents were busy scooping as much water out of their houses as they could. There were pools of water in low-lying areas next to the road and motorists were forced to drive slowly due to the number of potholes full of water on the road.
A Lingelihle resident, Balele Maqoko, said he woke up to find his floor covered in water. "I was shocked. I've been up since then trying to take the water out of my bedroom," he said. When Grocott's Mail arrived at Maqoko's house, his son and nephews were helping him scoop the water out of the bedrooms.
Maqoko had to open a hole in the mud house for some of the water to flow out. His furniture, clothes and his blankets were all wet. "I did not wake up during the night and this morning I realised that my blankets were wet," said Maqoko's son, Bulelani, shivering from the cold.
Bulelani and three of his cousins were busy opening trenches in their waterlogged backyard. Despite their situation, the Maqokos decided to laugh off the matter. "We are laughing because we cannot cry," said Maqoko.
Another resident Thembisa Rabashu was also scooping water out from her lounge. "The area we built on used to have a spring so whenever it rains the water seeps from the floor. There is nothing else we can do." Nomfundo Kondile's RDP house, however, was not as drenched as the Maqokos'. The rainwater has entered through a brick wall. She said she could not believe what she saw when she woke up.
"This house does not have a proper foundation. When it rains the water comes it, the bricks are of poor quality that is why my house is wet like this." The municipality had not responded to queries sent to them on whether there is an adequate drainage system in the area or not.
