THEMBALIHLE, Vrede – The DA has demanded a time-bound plan to protect approximately 30 families living in Thembalihle Extension 3 from ongoing water damage, with the party pledging to continue oversight and push for either the relocation of affected households or a permanent engineering solution to drain the area.
During a recent oversight visit, it became evident that residents are living in homes severely waterlogged due to being situated on unsuitable land. Both government-issued RDP houses and self-built homes are being systematically damaged as rising moisture undermines foundations.
Video evidence shows damp marks and water damage reaching up to 0,6m from ground level, leaving interiors constantly damp and posing serious health risks to inhabitants forced to live under hazardous conditions.
ALSO READ: Odendaalsrus service delivery crisis is critical
The Phumelela Local Municipality allocated these sites to residents as far back as 2002.
According to Cllr Ntombi Mokoena, DA Councillor in the Phumelela Municipality, the affected residents have been living with these undignified conditions for 24 years, with no meaningful intervention from the municipality despite the obvious unsuitability of the land for residential development. The lack of proper drainage infrastructure has left homes constantly battling rising damp and structural damage.
The DA has stated that it was unacceptable for any citizen to endure such living conditions for more than two decades. The party has committed to continue holding the municipality and relevant housing departments accountable.
