WINBURG, Free State — Residents of Dipotomaneng in Winburg are grappling with a severe housing crisis as persistent groundwater seepage continues to flood their homes, affecting more than 100 households in the Free State community. For over a decade, families have endured damp and deteriorating living conditions that have drastically worsened during the cold winter months, sparking urgent demands for sustainable intervention.
The crisis dates back to 2011, with some residents reporting they have lived in makeshift shacks for more than 13 years as their homes slowly turn into marshes. The continuous water seepage through floors has left residences wet and damp, causing significant damage to furniture and electrical appliances. As winter sets in, the influx of water increases, forcing families to manually drain their homes using small buckets.
The human toll of these appalling conditions is severe. A 63-year-old resident living with arthritis reported that her health has significantly declined due to the cold and dampness in her bedroom, making it increasingly difficult to bear the winter weather. Similarly, a mother of a two-month-old infant stated that her baby has fallen ill as a direct result of the environment. She noted that she and her child have contracted the flu, forcing them to sleep at a neighbor’s house at night and only return to the shack during the day.
In response to the growing crisis, a spokesperson for the Masilonyana Local Municipality confirmed that the local government has applied for an emergency housing development grant from the Department of Human Settlements. The primary objective is to relocate the affected residents to a habitable and safer area.
According to the municipality spokesperson, the Department of Human Settlements responded within two to three days, providing the necessary application forms. The municipality has since completed the paperwork and is currently in the process of conducting resident profiling. Once this profiling phase is complete, the data will be submitted to the department to secure the grant and facilitate the relocation.
Furthermore, the Masilonyana Local Municipality has appointed a contractor to develop a new residential area specifically designated for low-income beneficiaries. The spokesperson noted that the municipality is awaiting the completion of internal reticulation services by the contractor, emphasizing that residents cannot be allocated to an area lacking basic services.
The municipality affirmed that those living in shacks under the most dire circumstances will be prioritized once the new area is ready. However, the spokesperson cautioned that the entire relocation and development process is expected to take between 18 and 24 months to complete.