Sekampaneng, Hammanskraal residents are demanding that the local municipality fix the storm water drainage system in the area that results in flooding in their area when it rains.
However, the local councilor Alfred Boas Matjeke has washed his hands of the matter saying budget cuts and a lack of resources make it impossible for him to intervene and help the residents.
Matjeke said the February/March budget was cut by almost 20% adding that the worst affected was his Ward 8.
“If you can check the 21/22 budget, there is nothing, it is zero zero. But flooding is supposed to be addressed by municipal management but now as ward councilors we get limited resources to address these issues.
It is now like we don’t want to attend to our people, we understand that our people voted for us but now we have limited resources. This coalition is killing us. It doesn’t want to see black people living in proper places,” said Matjeke.
“Unfortunately, I can’t assist everyone and we don’t know who to assist and who not to assist. We usually have a truck from public works that we know is earmarked for flooding and such incidents.
The municipality brings it and we can drain out the water. Now even that truck is not available to assist these community members. The municipality is still struggling to pay service providers so it is a crisis,” said Matjeke.
A resident, Sibongile Motaung confirmed that Matjeke told them there were no resources to drain the water from their flooded yards.
“We then requested other alternatives. We requested that they at least put sandbags to prevent the water from flooding into our houses. The councilor said there is nothing he can do. He advised us that the information that we must call him for assistance was just to divert us.
“We didn’t know what to do until we called the media for intervention. We are defeated and powerless. We need assistance urgently because here at home we are not getting assistance. We were left in limbo,” said Motaung.
Motaung, who is a single parent and a general worker said she has spent between R8 000 and R10 000 for sand to try and minimise the flooding.
One of the residents who spoke on condition of anonymity said the problem dates back to 1988. When they experience flooding he is forced to carry his grandchildren on his back to a nearby primary school.
“During flooding, I usually have to accompany my grandchildren to school. They struggle when they go to school. Sometimes we are forced to carry them on our backs and help them cross the road”.
