Mona Hopshire, 69, from Scott’s Farm in Grahamstown has been living in a cracked house since 2008. On Tuesday Grocott’s Mail visited her house and she explained how she has been living in fear because of the cracks that are all over the building.
Mona Hopshire, 69, from Scott’s Farm in Grahamstown has been living in a cracked house since 2008. On Tuesday Grocott’s Mail visited her house and she explained how she has been living in fear because of the cracks that are all over the building.
Hopshire said in 2008 the three-roomed house was affected when Grahamstown was hit by a tornado. She said the asbestos roof was blown away by the strong wind.
“You can see there is new asbestos now and here and there are cracks all over the walls of this house,” she said.
“The tornado was in 2008 and in 2009 people that I’m not sure whether they were from the municipality or not came and registered the houses that were hit by the tornado. They said they would come back and fix the houses.
"We waited with anticipation that we would get help but up until now, nobody has came back to fix the houses. I’m living in fear here now because this house could fall apart any time,” said Hopshire.
She said it was the DA that came to their rescue and fixed some of the houses that were hit by the tornado. Hopshire said not all the houses were fixed.
Hopshire, who is sharing the house with two family members, said every winter it becomes a problem for her because all the cold air comes inside.
She said the roof is also still leaking and her furniture is damaged by the water when it is rains.
“I can’t even buy new furniture here because it would be damaged by the rainwater. You see I don’t even have a carpet because of the water that comes in.
“I’m appealing to anyone who could assist me to come up please. Since 2008 I have been living in this condition, I’m old and also not good in health,” said Hopshire.
Makana municipality spokesperson Yoliswa Ramokolo said some of the people whose houses were hit by the tornado were given temporary structures by Human Settlements.
“She should come and consult with our disaster management office. When people have such disaster incidents befalling them they should immediately report them to their councillors so that they can be assisted as soon as possible,” said Ramokolo.
She said it was for the municipality to determine what kind of assistance it should give people in such cases, it depends on the nature of the situation.
The disaster management officer would determine what support or assistance to provide.
