THE heavy rains that fell in Polokwane recently have started haunting residents of Extension 71, an RDP section, after most of the houses began to crack.

The area is a few kilometres from the Limpopo capital of Polokwane on the Matlala road.

So serious is the situation that occupation of the houses has become a danger for most of the residents.

A Sowetan team yesterday witnessed the harsh reality of life the residents have to endure as a result of the rains.

Houses have turned into wobbly structures that could collapse at any time.

Some of the houses have streams of water passing between them and it is dangerous for young children to venture outside.

Sewerage pipes have burst time and again .

Residents said they had had to endure the situation for the two years they had been living there.

Resident Mabushe Nchabeleng said his house was so bad that the cracks were making it easy for someone from outside to see inside .

"I've had to request an alternative house because my life was in danger if I continued to use the house allocated to me," he said.

Another resident, Mavis Mailula, said she had informed the Polokwane municipality on several occasions about her situation but nothing had been done so far.

Her sentiments were echoed by Albertina Molekwana, who said they were forced to plough furrows each time it rained because the water passing through their houses endangered their lives.

Provincial department of local government and housing spokesperson Clayson Monyela said they were aware the area was a wetland.

"A company will be appointed to look at the subsoil drainage system, after which the department will work on rectifying and repairing the damage to the houses," he said.

The occupants would be moved to other houses temporarily.