Heavy rainfall befell Gauteng last week and saw the province receiving the water it had longed for, in the midst of a serious drought, but this blessing quickly overwhelmed Gauteng. Certain parts of Pretoria were engulfed in water with floods displacing many residents in Mamelodi East and affecting the lavish Centurion hotel which received assistance from a military chopper that rescued residents from the hotel.
The Mamelodi Baptist Church is one of three shelters in Mamelodi currently accommodating displaced residents, from the floods, and was visited by Gauteng health MEC Bandile Masuku and Premier David Makhura. On Tuesday most citizens were evacuated to community halls in Mahube Valley, Nelmaphius and Stanza Bopape areas.
“The Gauteng Department of Health remains on high alert for cases for diarrhea, cholera, malaria or any other medical emergency resulting from those affected by the floods”, says Philani Mhlungu, Health MEC media liaison officer. He further stated that the GDoH activated the provincial Emergency Medical Services (EMS) from Tuesday to assess all displaced citizens in need of medical care.
“The GDoH would like to advise all citizens, especially the indigent elders and children living in low lying areas to avoid crossing at low lying bridges as well as consuming water from lakes, dams and rivers”, said Mhlungu.
With the rain having subsided some relief has come over Pretoria as the sun can be seen once again in the sky.
