Residents from Orlando East in Johannesburg are picking up the pieces following the province’s recent heavy downpours.
They are among other communities in Gauteng that are reeling in the aftermath of Friday’s devastating flash floods.
Roads have been washed away, homes flooded and officials are unable to access critical infrastructure.
While some are hopeful their rain-affected clothing and furniture will eventually dry, others complained that food items have been spoiled.
Orlando East residents spoke to the publication about the damage, after a nearby river overflowed its banks.
At least 13 homes in the area were affected.
Zandile Mazibuko said the sound of gushing water woke her up in the early hours of Friday morning.
“It started raining throughout the night. There was lightning, there was thunder, a whole lot of thunder and at 2 o’clock we were woken up…and we woke the kids up. They sat in the house but as soon as the water started coming into the house, everyone ran and hid for shelter in the shack”, she said.
Mazibuko explained that soon after, the water began to flow into the shack they’d taken cover in.
“At about 2:30, the water started coming into the shack. We all had to vacate the area and we had to go to the following street in order for us to be safe”, she added.
Mazibuko has called for the government to assist with shelter, blankets, and food.
Mazibuko said it’s not the first time flash floods have destroyed their homes.
“To tell you the truth, it’s not even for the second time and we never receive any help. The stoves are damaged, fridges are damaged, our clothes, the area is looking a mess; and our councilor is telling us now that the streets that the cars need to go on cannot be cleaned at the moment because it’s still wet.”
Meanwhile, efforts to restore electricity in the area have been hampered as officials have been unable to access critical infrastructure, and some substations have been submerged in the water.
-EWN
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It is December and our favorite South African celebrities have already started serving us with what’s going down wherever they are abroad. The latest one to bless our eyes before the Day of Reconciliation, which is on the 16th of Dec, is Blue Mbombo who is living her best life out there.
She is in Phuket, Thailand, at Nai Yang Beach having the greatest time of her life and we wonder who she is enjoying all of this with. Learn More
