Extension 6 residents who have alleged that rock blasting by a construction company installing a sewer line in the area damaged their houses suffered another blow when a burst water pipe flooded their homes.
Extension 6 residents who have alleged that rock blasting by a construction company installing a sewer line in the area damaged their houses suffered another blow when a burst water pipe flooded their homes.
Residents said Tuesday 23 September that the pipe burst during botched excavations by a contractor working in the area.
Elma Mdambatye said she was woken up around 5am by a dripping tap-like sound.
"I asked Mtomboxolo (daughter) why was the bathroom tap opened. I went to observe but saw the water was coming from the kitchen." Mdambatye said when she opened the kitchen door the water stormed into her house.
When Grocott's Mail visited, the house was flooded with some family valuables floating in the water.
"Everything in the house is wet, even the bed, so I don't know where I'm going to sleep tonight."
A municipal water tanker arrived to suck up the water, but residents said it was a waste of time as the burst pipe remained unfixed and spewing water non stop.
Two weeks ago, Grocott's Mail reported on blasting in the area, which residents alleged had damaged their houses. Vuyisa Mginywa, who dubbed the flooding a 'tsunami', told Grocotts that the excavations have been going on since 2012 and pipes burst regularly.
"These people are wasting our already scarce water and I doubt if they know what they are doing here."
Mginywa said the deep trenches are a safety hazard as they are left open during weekends.
Willie Walters, supervisor of the subcontractors installing sewer lines in the area for H Venter Construction, said the pipe was fixed immediately after it burst on Monday, but it burst again after children were seen playing with the pipe that had been fixed.
"Residents allow their children to play there and I don't know why such a thing continues to happen," Walters said. He said the safety of the people was compromised after an orange safety net used to cordon off the trenches was allegedly stolen.
"Our barricading was stolen so anyone can enter the trenches now," he said. Walters also said that his company is doing all in their power to pump out the water.
"I called the municipality for a back up but they told me that the trucks ran out of diesel." Siyabonga Dondashe, a resident, said people were using his driveway to escape the flooded street.
"Strangers are walking through my property because there's no way they can walk on that flooded street so this has also compromised my privacy as well."
Municipal spokesperson Yoliswa Ramokolo said huge rocks under the ground are the reason behind the delay of the project. Ramokolo promised to give Grocotts a more detailed response once she had gathered all the facts.
