Heavy rains, illegal dumping cause flooding in Lwandle

Bhekizizwe Radebe|Published 9 months ago

Balekile Nolo was among those whose homes were flooded due to blockages in a canal that flows behind their homes. In the background is the TLB (tractor loader backhoe) which was brought in to clear the canal.

For six years Balekile Nolo has lived in Lwandle township near Strand. And just about every winter, his home has been flooded.

Townships in Strand were hard hit by floods following heavy rains that fell across the province earlier this week.

As the first heavy rains of winter lashed parts of the Western Cape earlier this week, once again Mr Nolo found himself among those trying to keep the waters from a nearby canal out of their homes. The canal which runs behind their homes, said Mr Nolo, backs up because people have illegally dumped rubbish in it.

“Each time there is heavy rain, the water from the canal comes straight into our house. Previous ward councillors were unable to assist us with (the necessary equipment) to clear this canal,” he said.

He added that in March, too, his home had been flooded and that while the councillor had promised to arrange for a tractor loader backhoe (TLB) to clear the canal, this had not materialised.

Residents walk across the water canal in Lwandle.

“Today I did call the councillor again and reported the issue again. He promised us that he will hire the TLB out of his own pocket - and he did, as you can the TLB working outside. It was brought by him.”

Ward 86 councillor Xolani Diniso said they have been battling with the canal for some time, and that he had previously used of the ward’s budget allocation to hire 60 people to clean the canal.

“We have previously asked for help from the department of solid waste management to provide us with a machine to clear this canal, to prepare for such days, that was one of the winter readiness plans we have,” said Mr Diniso.

This week, he said, he decided to hire the TLB himself to assist the residents who had reached out to him.

Many shacks are flooded at New Location in Strand following heavy rains that fell across the province this week.

Yongama Mgxobo from New Location in Strand inside his flooded shack.

Yongama Mgxobo from New location in Strand walks between shacks that has been flooded after heavy rains hit parts of western Cape.