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Soweto Residents Face Devastating Flooding Due to Blocked Stormwater Drains
The ongoing issue of blocked stormwater drains in Soweto has reached a breaking point, with severe flooding damaging homes and personal property. Eight homes were flooded, with two having their boundary walls torn apart by the force of the water, following heavy rainfall that began last week.
The Killarney community in Orlando West has been grappling with flooding for the past three years, caused by blocked and poorly maintained stormwater drains. Despite the relentless rainfall, some residents were forced to move their furniture outside to dry, even though the weather conditions showed no signs of improvement. Others suffered significant losses, including clothes, shoes, and groceries.
Picture: Antonio Muchave
Pamela Tsagae, 62, shared her experience, telling Sowetan that flooding in her home began in 2022, leaving her anxious during every heavy rainfall. “This is the second time we’ve been hit by flooding. In 2022, our boundary wall and electric fence were destroyed. I spent R2,800 on the wall and R3,000 on the fence,” she explained.
Tsagae, who runs a catering business, is struggling to find the funds to fix the damage caused. She also mentioned that she has no wardrobe and now stores her clothes in containers. “It feels like I am constantly going backwards, and no one is prepared to fix the blocked drains,” Tsagae added.
The impact of the flooding is not limited to homes. Spaza shop owner Pontso Manyama had to discard her stock after it was ruined by water. “I’m relieved the rain didn’t break my fridge, but I had to throw away my stock that cost me close to R500. Seeing everything floating in water and trying to save the little I could, I thought I was going to lose my entire shop,” she recalled.
Tidimalo Komme, another resident, shared her devastation when floodwaters filled her home. “I couldn’t believe what I saw that day. My entire house was filled with dirty water up to our knees. The drain in my house was covered in water and couldn’t take in more,” she said.
Johannesburg Roads Agency’s head of regional operations, Khayalethu Gqibitole, stated that the flooding was caused by an inadequate stormwater system and requires capital expenditure (Capex) intervention. The agency only became aware of the incident on February 14, following a walkabout with the local ward councillor. “As part of the depot maintenance, the depot team will continue to attend to blocked kerb inlets to ensure all of them are clean,” Gqibitole added.
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Sourced: Soweto Live
