Torrential rain brought a measure of relief to the drought-affected catchment area at the weekend, with more than 200mm recorded in some areas and Nelson Mandela Bay’s main supply dams already seeing a significant rise in levels.
With combined capacity down to 17.95% at the end of August, the downpours of the past few days have seen an improvement to close to 30% capacity – with the Churchill Dam the most impressive at 78.13%.
Authorities have been quick to urge residents to continue to use water sparingly.
The desperately needed rain, however, came at a price.
More than 200 people from Missionvale had to be evacuated after they woke up to drenched belongings and items floating in knee-deep water beside their beds.
Forced to leave with just the clothes on their backs, the distraught families had to spend Saturday night at Missionvale Primary School, and were given warm meals during the day.
Those affected by the devastation – which resulted in all that they owned being destroyed – said they had found themselves in this situation far too often.
They said that while they appreciated the help offered, had they been given houses as promised more than 10 years ago, they would not be in this predicament.
The South African Weather Services’ Port Elizabeth spokesperson, Garth Sampson, said: “Although only 29mm were recorded at the Port Elizabeth Airport, it was a very different situation in the catchment of Nelson Mandela Bay.
“Joubertina had a whopping 163mm and our man on the spot at Kareedouw said his rain gauge overflowed at midnight, so he had more than 155mm.
“Even Patensie was lucky and recorded 41mm,” Sampson said on Saturday morning.
He said the Krakeel and Kromme rivers which connect to the dams were flowing beautifully.
A further 17.4mm fell in Patensie on Saturday night, while Joubertina received a further 37mm, Port Elizabeth 7.4mm and Kareedouw 28mm.
As much as 293mm of rain was measured this weekend in parts of the Langkloof.
“Please, this does not solve our water crisis,” Sampson said.
“Use water sparingly.”
The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality welcomed the good rains.
Municipal spokesperson Mthubanzi Mniki said the overall impact showed the Churchill Dam at 78.13%, Kouga Dam 13.63% and Groendal Dam 44.12%, with an overall average of 29.99%.
“As can be seen, the average dam levels have improved, but the municipality is by no means out of this disastrous situation,” Mniki said.
“The municipality will be monitoring the true impact of the rain over the next few days as significant run-off is still taking place.
“Residents, businesses, visitors and tourists are encouraged to remain vigilant and save water.”
For many of those in Missionvale and other low-lying areas, the rains spelt disaster.
Priscilla Witbooi, 52, who has been living in Missionvale for 42 years, said that as she neared retirement, she was still in the same situation she has been in since childhood.
“I have been sitting with a green card since 2008 to get a house,” Witbooi said.
“I have been living in this area for many years – all my children also grew up here, but still I am overlooked.”
Witbooi, who has six children, said the water damage to her home broke her spirit when she saw the helpless looks on her children’s faces.
“We live in a shack and the roof is rotten because it is an old house and I don’t have money to fix it,” she said.
“The water seeps in everywhere when it rains, which causes a little dam in my yard and naturally the water then runs into my house as well.
“Everything we own is soaked. My kids can’t go to school.
“When I woke up on Saturday morning, the water was covering the base of my bed.
“I could see my children were devastated seeing their clothing and shoes floating on the water. “This is not right, something must be done.”
Michelle Mzingane, 38, whose three-year-old son fell ill in the wet weather, said they were tired of receiving handouts from community helpers and needed houses.
“When I woke up, I stepped into a puddle of water beside my bed and, as I walked out of my bedroom, our other rooms were flooded. We have complained to our ward councillor numerous times about the dam behind our houses because when we get heavy rains like this it overflows and that water flows into our houses.”
Frustrated mother-of-five Amanda Jonas, 39, said she was at her wits end.
“Each time it rains like this, other areas’ sewage flows into our yards and houses.
“We have to throw our food out and we are stuck with an unsavoury smell,” she said.
“To have your house flooded is one thing, but to have unhygienic waste flow into your house is just disgusting – noone should live like that.”
At the Missionvale Primary School at the weekend, children were seen splashing in puddles, some barefoot and not adequately dressed for the cold, while a group of community workers handed out hot soup and bread. Bay residents donated mattresses, clothing and blankets.
Municipal disaster management head Shane Brown said a limited team had also assisted flood victims in Chatty, Bethelsdorp, Malabar and Despatch.
“We have had to move these people to community halls or schools, but from a long-term perspective we have to take a serious look at lack of services and problems in these areas.”