Informal settlement dwellers lose sleep when it rains
Residents plead for stormwater drainage
“Every time the rain is about to start, I pray that no fatalities occur as we’re always expecting flooding.”
These are the words of Lionel Melene, 54, a resident of the Dubai informal settlement in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, who says they have had floods for years in the area.
Torrential rains have hit parts of the country since Monday with the SA Weather Service (SAWS) issuing flood warnings.
About 300 homes have been affected by flooding in Dubai.
When Sowetan arrived at the area yesterday, residents were sweeping water out of their houses while others were moving furniture and hanging blankets to dry.
Melene said there was a stream behind their homes that always gets full when it rains heavily.
“I no longer have beds, kitchen cupboards, wardrobes as well as couches. Everything was damaged by floods.
“I am pleading with the metro to relocate me because I have arthritis. Any dry place that does not have water even if it’s in the bushes, I’ll be more than happy to live there.”
Sipho Mhlanga, 35, said the municipality must consider installing stormwater drainage systems in the area, saying they have been raising it for a long time. “Our area has suffered a lack of development for a long time. The result of this is people find themselves in a difficult situation during the chaotic floods.”
Tshwane Ward 26 councillor Joseph Shumi told Sowetan that the City of Tshwane is failing the community.
He said he had tried his best to get the metro to look into issues affecting the community.
“I don’t know If the problem is the finance department or what,” he said, saying he has followed proper procedures.
SA Weather Service spokesperson Mannelee Doubell said: “Following a week of rainfall over most parts of South Africa, a warning for severe thunderstorms with a possibility of heavy rain, hail, and damaging wind, which can lead to localised flooding, disruption of communication services, and damage to properties, has been issued.”
She said more thundershowers and flooding were still expected in the Gauteng region.