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DISASTER: Mike Mashiane's daughter died yesterday when a main water supply pipe burst in Mamelodi East, Pretoria. Phomolong informal settlement was flooded and more than 800 people were evacuated. PHOTO: ALON SKUY

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• Two kids die as water pipe bursts

"NEVER underestimate the might of water," were the words of a distraught father describing how water gushing from a burst underground pipe killed his three-year-old daughter and destroyed his shack in Mamelodi, Pretoria, yesterday.

Another child, a four-month-old baby, died later at Mamelodi Hospital.

Tshwane emergency services spokesman Johan Pieterse said two children died and a further seven people were injured.

Residents of Phomolong informal settlement in Mamelodi East said the incident started like an earthquake.

Mike Mashiane, 29, and his wife Vinolia Sikele, 30, had erected their shack over the pipe five years ago. They had been staying there with their two children, Tintswalo, 3, and Retsibile, 10.

Mashiane had just gone to bed at about midnight when the incident occurred.

"I was in bed for about 15 minutes when I heard a loud sound that lasted about five seconds, and my house was gone. The whole place was dark and I heard my son screaming for help, and I just stretched my arm and luckily grabbed his hand. I managed to pull him to safety.

"I did not know what happened to my daughter because I could not find her."

Mashiane sustained facial and body bruises.

Among the injured was Thabiso Shabangu, 12, a Grade 6 pupil who sustained a cut to the forehead and a gash to the right arm.

He told Sowetan how he was lifted into the air by swirling water and landed metres from his shack.

"I thought it was the end of the world," he said.

Moses Moagi, 36, said he managed to escape with his wife and two children through a window.

"I am happy that my plan to instal burglar bars failed to materialise at the end of last month. I believe we would have been trapped in the flooded shack. I thank God that I postponed the plan."

Johannes Matlou whose shack was also destroyed, said he heard a loud noise outside and went to inspect.

"I just saw a black cloud of mud thrown into the air. I ran back into the house to salvage some of my belongings, but it was too late. I have lost everything, including my identity document."

The water destroyed four shacks and flooded many others.

The community have accused their local councillor of not fulfilling his promise to relocate them to a safer area.

Comments

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Fri May 24 03:23:58 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 21, 2012

dee87

I remember the Municipality warning those people to vacate there so why a they blaming the municipality for the tragedy,they caused themself by digging there!!!!!I REALY DONT FEEL SORRY FOR THEM!
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Aug 21, 2012

Shredder

May theirs souls rest in peace.

Ja nee, the power of water. I wonder what caused that. Old pipes? Poor job assembling of pipes? I wonder. We need the task team to do the investigations.
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Aug 21, 2012

Nwanawamukalaha

To start with, all those people are occupying the wet services servitude illegally and they know that. They were told long time ago before Nellmapius Township was established. These are the people who were evicted from Marabastad and promised a portion of land in Mamelodi. The area was not far from Vista campus but they started bringing in their families and friends hence the expansion of the dwelling area until crossing the servitude. The municipality can be blamed for not being stance against the illegal erection of shacks considering that when Nellmapius Township was built for them.

PROBLEM: Ward councillor sold the stands to people who were not earmarked for the new development. Something that the municipalityu can solve considering that the ward councillor belongs and reports to them.
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Aug 21, 2012

Papage

Presidents, Ministers and coucillors are ok with people living in shacks and they are sleeping on their edblows in huge houses, some rooms empty for dokie years, how cruel is that? shame on you.
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Aug 21, 2012

Pontshopontsho

poor kids may their souls rest in peace, as for people who live at Marabastad most of then afford to buy proper bond houses as they are government employees and also municipal employees. they are stinchy for their safety and well being
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Aug 21, 2012

akaPENdEBAHLEN

Why Do you build on top of a waterpipe.I bet when the municipality wanted to move them to beteer land they demanded houses.Now they blame them.Yoh.South Africans are lazy they all want everything on a silver platter.SIES.Rest in peace children of God.
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Aug 21, 2012

Voetzek

Before commenting negetive about this Story you must look yourself in the mirror, you cannot just say people must vacate without alternative.
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Aug 21, 2012

Budapat

sad story indeed, this reminds me of this one reggae hit ''POOR MAN FEEL IT'' by ta-Tosh, sorry bangani bam eMams torhwana
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Aug 21, 2012

Crazyr

@ Voetzek
They were given an alternative they were being moved to Nellmapius Ext 6, this process started in April 2012 but i dont know what happened that stopped it.
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Aug 21, 2012

Nantseka

May the souls of innocent kids rest in peace!
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