Family begging City to fix their roof since 2014
COLD: Ouma Rachel, Jonathan, Felicity, and Shaun. Picture: Jack Lestrade
An Elsies River family is braving yet another cold and rainy winter in their flat where it has been leaking and flooding for the past six years.
Felicity Solomons, 40, lives with her husband Jonathan, 40, her son Shaun, 22, and her grandmother, Rachel, 89, in the Clarke Estate area.
Felicity says since 2014, they’ve been begging the municipality to fix their broken roof.
The family says they dread the rain, as it floods their bedroom, lounge and kitchen.
“My yskas, microwave en stove het ingegee, tot op die TV. Dit lek op ons bed ook. Ons moet elke keer die bed skuif,” says a frustrated Felicity.
When it starts raining, they rush in with blankets, buckets and mops ready to soak up the water and Felicity says they are getting gatvol.
Ouma Rachel recently had a leg operation, and says the cold makes her leg pain, causing her sleepless nights: “My bene pyn van die koue. Ek kannie slaap innie aande nie.”
The family says they’re not the only ones impacted by the issue, as the entire block of Mayville Court flats neighbours have been complaining.
“The council keeps fixing the stairs, but when we mention the roofs, they say we have to wait until the lockdown is finished,” says Felicity.
Jonathan says they religiously complain at the start of every month when they pay their municipal bill, but yet the problem remains.
He says that if the delay is due to some neighbours not paying their rent and utilities on time, he shouldn’t have to suffer as he’s never missed a single payment.
The family’s electrical devices are covered to prevent electrocution.
Mayco member for Human Settlements Malusi Booi says they are looking into the matter.
“The City’s Public Housing Department is currently experiencing severe repair work backlogs, primarily due to the impact of the Covid-19 crisis and the ongoing inclement weather and we are trying our best to work through it as soon as possible.”