The victims of the recent torrential downpours in Vanderbijlpark near the Vaal River, Lochvaal, Rietvlei, and the neighbouring districts are still picking up the pieces after water from the sluice gates inundated their houses and belongings like cars and trailers.
The roads and bridges in some parts of the area have been completely destroyed leading to several road closures. The R42 bridge in Rietvlei which joins N1 road from Vanderbijlpark is one of the impassable roads.
The Vaal Dam was flooded on Saturday as a result of the heavy rains, forcing authorities to open sluice gates at Bloemhof Dam. By the time residents were warned, it was too late because the water moved faster than anticipated.
Insurance companies are already evaluating the catastrophic impact on house owners who were fortunate enough to be able to insure their properties for natural disasters.
Damaged fridges, trailers, tabled and some clothes can be seen from a distance at Catusha Teixeira’s residence.
She flew from her home in Cape Town to come and see how badly her home was destroyed.
She told Newsnote she’s devastated that government officials were unable to bring any help.
“No one from Emfuleni came to provide assistance. This is a national disaster, they had to come see for themselves,” said a visibly disappointed Teixeira.
“I’m thankful that no lives were lost now that no lives were lost, you start looking around. It’s a distraction. You will carry on living but we lost everything, we need a bed and anything to keep going,” she said.
Petrous Ntsime, 46, said his house and furniture were swept away.
“I left my house on Saturday afternoon to go to a tuck shop. My wife called me when the water was flowing in and I took my belongings and put them outside the house then it was too late. The current was so strong, then I ran away. I only managed to save the car. My house was swept away with the furniture inside,” he said.
Ntsime’s neighbor, Lionel Theron struggled to hold back her tears and said she was thankful to be alive.
“My husband said we need to take what is important but it was not an easy thing to do because you want to take your photo album and your mom’s recipe book while the house is quickly flooding. I’m just thankful to be alive and none of us is injured”.
After the interview one of her friends drove into her yard and handed her a lunch box and she became emotional and broke down crying again.
Mantwa Radebe said she would like the department of home affairs to go to her area and help her register her missing documents which were swept away along with her furniture.
“I’m unable to go to the police station because there are no taxis here and I can’t walk. It’s too far so I would like the Department of Home Affairs to come so I can register for my children’s birthday certificates and my ID,” she said.
Gauteng Human Settlements MEC Lebogang Maile who briefed the media on Tuesday during his visit said 329 people were affected.
“Municipality’s Executive Mayor Lerato Maloka, visited flood-stricken areas to assess the impact and damages caused by heavy rains, which led to several families being displaced.
“The District Municipality has activated various units including Municipal Emergency Services (EMS), to work around the clock to assist and evacuate affected households and offer food relief and temporary accommodation. The total number of households affected stands 329,” he said.
