Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
03 April 2025
At least five houses in Extension 22, eMbalenhle, are reportedly sinking due to underground water believed to be stormwater or suraface-runoff in residents’ backyards. The situation has raised serious concerns over safety, health, and the long-term viability of living in the affected area.
The stormwater that fails to drain after rainfalls has refilled and flooded the roods and residents’ backyards, putting nearby homes at risk. The visibly deteriorating structures, mostly RDP houses, are now showing signs of subsidence, cracks, and water infiltration.
Ms. Thembisile Sibeko, a resident who lives with three young children, shared her ordeal with the Sekhona team.
“Every day I have to drain water coming up from underneath the house. When it rains, it gets even worse,” she said. “We’re living in fear. This house could collapse at any moment.”
The gravity of the situation was echoed by Ms. Mndebele, another affected resident.
“Our houses are now subsiding, and we fear any day they could collapse. It gets worse when it rains as we hardly sleep out of fear of this dam. We are sick; our children can’t move an inch to the backyard as it is not safe. At this moment, we are willing to relocate from this place as our lives are in danger,” she said.
According to the local ward councillor, P Vilakazi, the problem was identified several years ago, and residents were given the option to be relocated to Charl Cilliers.
“All residents in that area were offered alternative housing in Charl Cilliers, as it was already observed that those houses would eventually collapse,” said the councillor.
However, relocation was not a viable solution for many.
“Charl Cilliers is far, and most of us are unemployed. Our children are enrolled in schools here in eMbalenhle, so we never accepted the offer,” the councillor explained, acknowledging the complex socio-economic realities faced by the community.
As the rainy season continues, residents are calling on local government and human settlements authorities to urgently intervene before a tragedy strikes.
