25-year struggle to fix burst Klipfontein pipe
Residents of Klipfontein Mission Station say they’ve been battling to get a burst pipe fixed by the City Council since last year, which has caused flooding in at least five homes.
Resident Francina Senikah says: “The ward councillor’s office said they would give us feedback within 10 days when I first went there in September last year.
“I went back numerous times to tell them that no one came to fix the pipe, but they were not able to help me.”
Neighbour Selwan Botha says the pipe has been faulty for decades.
“That pipe has been broken for over 25 years and now it seems it’s completely broken.
“Many people from the City have come out to look at the pipe over the years, but they haven’t fixed it. My house is always full of water,” says Selwan.
DAMAGING EFFECT: Geraldine January
Geraldine January, whose 80-year-old mother lives with her, says most of her furniture has been damaged.
“All my cupboards fell in because of the water that soaks into the wood and makes it soft. Our carpets are soaking wet and everything is damaged in the house.
“We make a fire to keep warm in this house, but then the smoke is damaging our homes too,” says January.
Mayco Member for Water and Waste Xanthea Limberg says they are aware of the matter.
“Those service requests were investigated and no pipe-burst or visible leaks were found in the vicinity," Limberg says.
“It seems, after heavy rainfall, water tends to gather on the property as the land, which is privately-owned, does not have infrastructure to relieve the water.
“If the resident believes current flooding is related to a burst pipe, they should log a new service request."