The Post

Mom, toddler trapped in house as water pipe bursts

CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za

A PHOENIX mother and toddler were trapped inside their home after a burst pipe flooded their property last week.

Noorun Mahomed, 31, a social worker at the Tongaat Child Welfare, stood on a sofa holding her 2-yearold daughter as the water rose in their home.

Ismail Mahomed, 30, her husband, a property developer, rescued them and their dogs.

Mahomed said: “I was 10 minutes away when my wife called me to say that water was rushing into the house and she could not get out.

“Our home is below road level and we believe that workers from a fibre installation company struck a water pipe.

“When I arrived, I saw water gushing out of the broken pipe and into our driveway and home.

“It was like a waterfall. The workers stood outside the property. I ran to the sliding door at the front of our home and saw my wife standing on a sofa with our daughter in her arms. The water was as high as the sofa seat.”

Mahomed said he tried to open the door and another one at the side of the house, but was unable to. He said sand was lodged against the door which prevented him from gaining entry.

“The workers from the fibre construction company also tried to help. I was scared that I would not be able to help my family. Just then, an off-duty plumber from the eThekwini Municipality was driving past and he saw what was happening. He helped by turning off the water supply on the roadside. This made all the difference.”

Mahomed said while trudging in the knee-high water, he managed to remove the sand lodged against the door.

“When I opened the door, I saw my two little dogs, Loki and Kai, struggling to keep their heads above the water. I grabbed on to them and left them on the road. I then went to my wife. I took my daughter from her and we walked out of the house together. I was thankful they were okay. My wife was shaken.”

He said everything in their home was damaged.

“I spent six months renovating the home. Everything was new and now everything is destroyed – our appliances, furniture, most of our clothing and groceries. We just moved into the place two weeks ago. We did not even update our insurance with the new valuations of our furniture and other items.”

Mahomed said he lodged a complaint with the eThekwini Municipality over the phone.

“An assessor from the municipality visited the property but I now cannot get a hold of him or anyone else from the municipality for feedback on the damages.

“As much as the fibre company hit the pipe, the municipality is equally to blame because the infrastructure was not upgraded. It is as old as Phoenix itself. My wife and child could have died if I did not get to them on time.”

He said they stayed a few nights at the Coastlands Hotel, while his dogs were left on the property. “Before we left for the hotel, the water outside had cleared. I went back every day to check on things and to feed my dogs.”

On Sunday, he stayed at the home, while his wife and daughter stayed with her mother.

“They are doing well. We invested so much in the home and to see it like this is disappointing.”

Msawakhe Mayisela, the spokesperson for the eThekwini Municipality, said they would investigate the matter and address it with the company concerned.

“The laying of fibre is not a city project. It is done by private companies. As per their agreement with the city, they are also liable for all damages incurred during the installations.

“Our Roads and Stormwater Maintenance Department has a dedicated clerk of works who monitors these contractors and ensures compliance on-site.”

Mayisela said the clerk was the first point of contact in the event of any damages or non-compliance.

“They are also entitled to stop work in case of major transgression.”

He said residents could report damages to 031 322 7241.

The fibre company did not comment at the time of publication.

NEWS

en-za

2021-06-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thepostza.pressreader.com/article/281621013299076

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