Heavy rains trigger groundwater fears in Filabusi

Residents of Bekezela Township in Filabusi say unusually heavy rains have exposed underground water tables, leaving some homes sitting on saturated ground and raising fears of structural damage.

The downpours, which began in early November 2025 and continued until mid-April 2026, are being described by local officials as the most intense the area has experienced in years.

One affected resident, Modylen Hlongwane, said water was seeping beneath the foundations of her house.

"My home is sitting above underground water. I am afraid that the underground current could harm my property at any time," she said.

Another resident, Zandile Ncube, said several households in the township were experiencing similar problems.

"The challenge that we have is water. Our houses are on top of water, and I think the water is coming from the road where we stay," she said.

"We wish the council to put drainage systems that will take the water away to the Insiza River."

Ncube said soakaway systems were failing because of pressure from rising groundwater levels, causing water to spill into properties and turning access roads into muddy tracks.

"Even cars struggle to get into yards because of the mud," she said.

Mthoniselwa Ndebele, an engineer with the Insiza Rural District Council, said the situation had caught residents off guard because the area is historically known for low rainfall and deep underground water tables.

"The magnitude and effect anticipated might have been lesser due to the available hydrological history of Filabusi," he said.

Ndebele said the recent rainfall pattern had contradicted decades of hydrological data for Matabeleland South.

In response, the council has proposed constructing mitre drains using boulders and pipes to redirect surface runoff and ease pressure on the local water table.

However, he warned that engineering interventions alone might not fully resolve the problem.

"Some of the structures may need to be relocated and the area planned for other uses," he said.

During the rainy season, the area was placed under monitoring, with residents advised to move to safer locations if flood risks escalated. The Civil Protection Unit was placed on high alert, while space was prepared at a local school to accommodate families in the event of evacuations.

Authorities say assessments are continuing as officials weigh immediate mitigation measures alongside long-term planning options.