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Homes across Buffalo City Metro were flooded by the deluge of rain this week, with scores of residents moving into community halls to escape the weather and Gift of the Givers called in to provide emergency help to communities, including a Mdantsane old age home.
And police and emergency services were called to Nahoon Beach following the discovery of a body that appeared to have washed out as a result of the fast-moving river. By time of going to print no further details were available as to the identity of the deceased.
In Scenery Park there was chaos when fed-up informal settlement residents blocked the road with burning tyres, complaining that while about 100 homes were flooded, their ward councillor was nowhere to be found.
They said they were being ignored by ward councillor Pearl Hanse and had not been provided with alternative shelter.
Community leader Thamsanqa Dywili said they felt neglected by Hanse over the dire situation in the Manyano, Zibonele and Ekuthuleni informal settlements.
They had united to block access to the area by closing off the Scenery Park/Woolwash roads and Buffalo Pass because the flooding affected them all.
“We are all here crying about the same situation. The councillors should be here to assist with disaster relief.
“We want them to come visit and see for themselves the conditions we are faced with. The rain will stop on Friday, what will all these people do?”
Dwyili took the Dispatch team into flooded Zibonele, where structures were erected in 2014.
The Scenery Park area, running from below the Mdantsane access road bridge and adjacent to Haven Hills, is home to more than 50 shacks, most of which were flooded.
The shacks are built close to a stormwater drainage system connected to the Buffalo River.
Elderly resident Nogudile Lawu said their living conditions were poor and ignored by their councillor.
“My shack is flooded. It has been years since I have complained to her about the conditions we are living in. She does not answer us.”
DA caucus leader Sue Bentley said there were a number of reasons for the flooding of shacks in Scenery Park, which no doubt caused much heartache and desperation in people’s lives.
“BCM has had a large amount of rain over the past few days, after days of rain last week too, so undoubtedly the groundwater table is high ...
“I am not sure if the residents are living in a low-lying flood plain area — if so, then the area will always be prone to flooding after lots of rain.
“I do not know if this localised flooding is aggravated by blocked stormwater drains or damaged stormwater culverts that stop the water from draining away — if this is the case, then the lack of stormwater maintenance is a BCMM problem, as it is throughout the metro.
“No matter the cause of the flooding, I do believe the elected ward councillors should be available, within reason, to assist the residents to access disaster management assistance.”
Hanse declined to comment, saying the flooding had affected areas throughout the metro.
Nonkululeko Alice Ngcengce, 73, a resident at the Thembalethu Old Age home in Mdantsane’s NU13, said their leaking roof was giving them sleepless nights.
The home accommodates 40 elderly residents who live off pension grants.
“We end up squeezing into other residents’ beds so we can sleep. We often have to change out of our wet clothes.”
The home’s project manager, Nada Gongota, said they had approached Gift of the Givers on Tuesday.
“Our roof is leaking in the women’s room and also in the bathroom. The mattresses and their blankets get wet. They end up having to share their beds.”
Most of the residents had no relatives.
Mdantsane City Shoprite gave much-needed groceries to the old age home, and Gift of the Givers supplied blankets, mattresses and mops.
“The help we have received will go a long way because at least we will be able to change mattresses until the rain stops. Some of our residents are disabled and some have dementia.”
Ward councillor Nkosinathi Mndi of Mdantsane NU13 said: “The major challenges are blocked stormwater drains. Whenever we have floods, people are reluctant to leave their belongings at home to go stay in a community hall.”
Gift of the Givers volunteer Corene Conradie said residents from other parts of the metro had also asked for help, including people in wards 38 and 7.
“In the past three weeks, 50 families in Amathole were evacuated to a temporary shelter and are being provided with meals.”
In Nompumelelo, 60 residents sought shelter in a community hall.
Sandile Sipayile, his two daughters, and his wife, Mandisa, said their children were missing school and had to guard their belongings.
“The rains destroyed our roof. Everything inside our home is wet.”
Ward councillor Nwabisa Mcwabeni said: “We have received reports of about 46 homes affected. During the day the residents go to their homes.”
Clean Slate’s Brian Francis, a Daily Dispatch 2021 Local Hero, said: “I received WhatsApp calls and texts for shelter and food, but unfortunately, due to the lack of shelters and support, it is a continuous battle.”
The Amathole District Municipality confirmed a near-fatal incident after a man tried to cross an overflowing bridge in ward 8, Cegcuwana, in the Mnquma Local Municipality.
Mnquma municipal spokesperson Loyiso Mpalatshana said: “The bridge in Cegcuwana is classified as a provincial road and therefore it falls under the competence of the provincial department of transport.
“But Sanral, which is putting the final touches to the construction of the Ndabakazi Interchange on the nearby N2, has agreed to fix the bridge once the environmental impact assessment has been approved.”
He said people were advised to avoid crossing flooded bridges.
“One of our colleagues, director for community services Makhaya Kibi, was trapped at a flooded bridge on his way to work, but fortunately, he is safe and sound.”
Amathole spokesperson Sisa Msiwa said no fatalities or injuries were reported.
The district was still trying to recover from the damage caused by March storms, with an estimated damage of R100m.
Transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose said: “The severe weather conditions continue to batter the Eastern Cape, with wet and slippery road conditions.
“In rural communities, the impact has been far worse; low-lying bridges have been flooded, making it impossible for communities.”
According to the SA Weather Service, rain in the BCM region will continue with 20mm expected on Thursday and clear up for a cloudy Friday, warming up for temperatures of around 24ºC on Saturday and Sunday.
Daily Dispatch
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