After the floods: Centurion residents take stock and show good humour
Centurion residents, despite facing tragic losses and infrastructure damage from December 21 floods, are rebuilding with resilience and humour, as seen in creative responses to recurring potholes and community efforts to navigate the aftermath. Picture: Facebook
Image: Facebook
After the massive floods in Centurion on December 21, the area has been left with countless potholes and damaged infrastructure, but in true South African spirit, the rebuild has begun with some good humour thrown in.
Tragically, there were a number of deaths reported as a result of the floods - a delivery driver drowned as well as two members of the public who were trapped in the vehicle as they were swept away in the Hennops River.
It’s not unusual for flooding in Centurion during the rainy summer season, and the majority of the residents get on with their daily routines during the festive season.
On Theuns van Niekerk Street in Roohuiskraal North, a recurring pothole has once again opened up. By the end of the rainy season, it could probably swallow half of a Hyundai i10, and motorists normally give it a wide berth on the busy two-lane road.
Moving on after the floods in Centurion
As the pothole opened up again last week, one resident erected a sign in the pothole which read: No Fishing.
On December 22, I drove to Bronberrick, a suburb in Centurion, where a low-lying bridge under the N14 where the river routinely bursts its banks during flooding.
The road was cordoned off, and I had to park about 400m away from the bridge before walking down to get a glimpse of the river.
A day later, the bodies of two siblings were found nearby as emergency personnel recovered their bodies from their vehicle.