a title="The entire Klerksdorp Golf course was under water with local fishermen trying their luck to catch “a big one’’ when the water started receding." href"><img" src=" widt" heig"></a>"entswe, Klerksdorp - While only the damage caused by last week’s flooding in Klerksdorp and surrounding areas is still visible after the water has receded, people will talk about the Schoonspruit in flood for years to come. The last time the Schoonspruit has flooded this far is said to be in 1976 when parts of Klerksdorp CBD were also under water. Last week, smallholdings, businesses and houses near the Schoonspruit were flooded when several farm dams upstream near Ventersdorp burst their banks due to the unrelenting rain.
On Wednesday morning February 19, warnings were sent out that people in low lying areas should evacuate. That afternoon houses were started to flood and emergency services and the police helped taking people to safety. Several animals from smallholdings were also rescued from being swept away by the rising water. These circumstances activated the Dr KK disaster management unit to deal with the impact of the flooding on the community, as well as the damage to infrastructure. A total of 97 households were evacuated with the most being in Cuckoo Street. Four fragile patients were also evacuated from Panorama Park Old Age Home.
On Thursday with water still flooding low water bridges, Matlosana Fire and Rescue had to rescue three people who were swept away by the water while trying to cross the bridge in Leem-huis Street on foot. On Friday, another four people were apparently swepped away at the same spot. The search for them has been called off later that afternoon.
Lentswe was told that it probably was a wild goose chase with only a four year old child witnessing the incident. Until now no missing persons were reported and no signs that the four people were indeed in the water, were found.
Below is a summary of affected areas as provided by Dr KK Municipality: Roads and Bridges Affected:
- Flooding of the N12
- Leemhuis Street Bridge
- Trens Erasmus Street Bridge
- Homan Street Bridge
- Kanana Bridge (Ward 38 - Khuma Hostel)
Evacuation:
- 97 Households evacuated
- Ward 35 (Khuma): 3 households affected
- Ward 30 (Stilfontein): 13 households affected
Tigane - Mokgopeng & Qalabosha Farms:
- 11 households affected
- 11 mud houses damaged
- Ward 27 (Kanana): 1 household affected
Klerksdorp - Cuckoo Street, Irene Park:
- 17 households evacuated
- Numerous farm animals rescued
- Ward 19 (Klerksdorp): 7 households affected
- Panorama Old Age Home: fragile patients moved to Acacia Guest House
JB Marks Municipality:
Roads and Bridges Affected:
- Flooding of the N12
- Extension 7 / Promosa Bridge
- Potchefstroom: 1 household affected
Maquassi Hills Municipality
- 3 households affected.
