Durban - Thobeka Ngudwane knew her low-cost house was built on clay and was not safe, but she continued living in it, hoping that after her numerous complaints to eThekwini Municipality, the house would be fixed.
However, her home in Welbedacht collapsed on Sunday morning, unable to withstand the effects of the weekend’s storms.
Fortunately no one was inside at the time.
Ngudwane, 49, is one of hundreds of Durban residents who have been displaced following the heavy rains. While others are rebuilding, she said she had no idea where to start, as everything she owned was trapped beneath the rubble.
When Ngudwane’s house collapsed, she was outside doing her laundry and her husband had gone to get water from an outside tap. Their grandchild was playing outside.
By late on Monday the municipal disaster management team had not reached her.
“Everything I own is locked under the concrete. I had to sleep over at my sister’s place and I do not know what I am going to do and where I am going to go,” she said.
Next to what used to be Ngudwane’s house were three more houses which could collapse any time, as the soil underneath has been eroded.
Another woman, who has a disability, Fikile Mvuyane, 63, could not get out of her bed as her house has been flooded.
Her grandchildren did not go to school on Monday as they worked on getting the water out of the house.
Her municipal-built house is also on the verge of collapsing.
She now has to get rid of some of her furniture which has been extensively damaged.
City spokesman Thulani Mbatha said relief for more than 300 people was being provided by the city in partnership with non-governmental organisations and the provincial government.
Other affected areas were Reservoir Hills, Seacow Lake, Amaoti, St Wendolin’s, Siyanda located in KwaMashu and Lamontville where homes and roads have been damaged.