Slam Soweto

Written by Thapelo Magola

Looding has swept across Soweto leaving furious residents trapped by knee-high-flooding outside their homes- and they say it happens every time it rains. People living in Nancefield Hostel, Klipspruit, say they suffer flooding every year but the current levels are the worst since 2000. The county has seen significant rainfall since last week families have been struggling to get to work and take their children to school. Meanwhile, a technical task team will be formed between the Gauteng Provincial Government and the City of Joburg aimed at redevelopment of hostels. This was a commitment made by Gauteng Human Settlements MEC Lebogang Maile, Human Settlements MMC Cllr Mlungisi Mabaso and Transport MMC Cllr Funzi Ngobeni after visiting the Klipspruit Valley Road, the site of the construction of a bridge.The visit comes after the flooding in Nancefield Hostel and Informal Settlement this weekend, which affected close to 400 families. Cllr Mabaso visited the area on Saturday and Sunday and established that the construction of the bridge on Klipspruit Valley Road may have had an impact on the stream that forced water to flow towards the hostel.Speaking about the construction of the bridge, Cllr Ngobeni said: “We are hoping that by the end of January or beginning of February, we should be done with the project. We anticipate that there will be delays in completing the project in November. As you would have seen, the work is still underway.” As an immediate intervention, temporary structures will be erected in Nancefield Hostel to accommodate residents living in the dilapidated structures.Cllr Mabaso said: “We really need to develop hostels. The living conditions in hostels are no longer conducive for people to live in. We will work with the Provincial Government to improve living conditions in hostels across the City.” The Provincial Government has also committed to working with the City and assisting to meet any financial short falls that may arise. Human Settlements MEC Lebogang Maile said: “I’ve made a commitment to the MMCs that if there is a need for additional funding we will definitely come to the party, working with national government. This is a big problem, it needs all spheres of government.”The development of the area will also include the refurbishment of a local hall which has been vandalized over the years. The City will be keeping a close eye on the developments taking place in Nancefield.