A Moreleta Park resident claims that the Tshwane metro is mum regarding compensation after an overflowing reservoir caused her property serious damage in July.
The east of Pretoria homeowner was dealt a devastating blow when the reservoir allegedly caused her property over R160 000 worth of damage.
Elsabe Coetzee claimed Tshwane failed to take responsibility for the damage the overflowing reservoir caused to her home.
Coetzee’s demanding answers and compensation from the Tshwane metro after the devastating flood damage.
Several homes in Wekker Street were flooded on Wednesday, July 24 evening when a nearby Tshwane reservoir overflowed.
The reservoir overflowed due to overfilling in advance of scheduled Rand Water maintenance, which was set to take place from July 26 to 29.
The Tshwane metro confirmed that the reservoir overflowed when a valve failed and caused damage to the property.
The flood reportedly damaged gardens, destroyed a boundary wall, damaged appliances and destroyed machinery and a Wendy house.
Coetzee said she filed a claim and kept following up without luck.
“The same disaster happened again twice in August, without a word from Tshwane about permanent solutions to prevent future flooding.”
She said what is frustrating about this incident is that the same happened in 2018 and she paid a lot of money for repairs and this year she suffered the same fate again.
Coetzee said the metro has not been forthcoming regarding the damage claim,
“Apart from the emails, no one has been in contact with us and no one has inspected the extent of the damage.”
She added that she kept asking if they would inspect the damage “as we are at the point of doing the repairs while waiting for them to pay out”.
“But we can’t do the repairs until they inspect the damage,” Coetzee said.
“We shared three repair quotations with them but still no progress.
We have made quotes with the highest being R170 000.”
She said no one from Tshwane had engaged them regarding a permanent solution to the flooding.
“Instead the Pretoria East Caring Forum co-ordinated the digging of a trench behind our yard, which seems to be helping as the flood in August missed us.”
She said she was at the point of selling the house because since 2018 it has been flooded so many times, with Tshwane failing to take responsibility.
“My wooden floor has absorbed the water and is swollen and it can crack at any time. This means a lot of money to replace or fix.”
She said the appliances in her Wendy house also got damaged.
“We had locked up a lawn mower, compressor, hoover and other appliances which are all damaged by the water.”
She said she demanded that the metro take accountability and be straight up with them regarding the claim.
After the devastating flood in July, the metro said all reservoirs have control systems that close automatically when it is full but in this instance the valve failed, causing the overflow.
The metro said affected residents can complete a damage claim form and submit it to Tshwane’s Legal Department together with supporting documents.
Until now, Coetzee claims, she has not received positive communication from Tshwane.
Ward 47 councillor Lida Erasmus said officials said they have repaired the fault with the reservoir valves to prevent future flooding.
Metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba said the city only received the claim for Coetzee on August 23.
“The city’s insurer is currently attending to the claim,” she said
Bokaba said the city’s Water and Sanitation Department is in the process of compiling a report of the incident, which will be submitted to the said insurer to finalise the claim.
“The city further dismisses the allegations that it has been quiet and not providing updates.”
Bokaba said that on August 29, an acknowledgement was sent to the third party.
“Thereafter, updates were provided on September 3, October 3 and October 23. The city has been communicating constantly with the third party,” Bokaba said.
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