After the flood came the callous thieves

Soweto residents left destitute by the weekend's floods not only have to rebuild their homes but guard the few personal belongings they managed to salvage from being stolen by criminals.

As hundreds of families mop up after the floods that rendered 173 households and 545 people displaced, residents yesterday told of the opportunistic thugs who are surveying the affected areas in search of loot.

Noxabiso Sineke, who is staying at a community hall after her house was completely flooded, left her nephew, Lucky Sineke, to guard her furniture. She said this was a standard safety measure.

Another affected resident, Daniel Ngwenya, 58, said: "We didn't go to the community centre because the tsotsis would come and break things."

Ayanda Scott, 26, said: "I have been sleeping at the community centre since Saturday. It's very cold there. But my brother stays to look after the house."

People are also fearful for their children's safety.

"It's not safe if kids are here," said Noxabiso Sineke, who has asked her sister-in-law to look after her seven- month-old twins.

Some children had to go to school in wet uniforms.

Robert Mulaudzi, spokesperson for the City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services, said a number of relief efforts were in place to help those affected, including soup kitchens and a shelter at the community centre.

Yesterday mattresses and clothes were hung out to dry, while residents were left wondering how they would rebuild their lives as many crucial documents were lost in the floods.

"We lost important documents like IDs and child grant cards. I don't know how long it will take [to re-apply]," said one resident.

Kliptown residents are routinely hit with flash floods and heavy rains at this time of the year .

"We are living like baboons now," Scott said.

"When it's raining we don't sleep, we have to go outside to wait and watch."

There is at least some good news on the horizon.

Dipuo Tawana from the South African Weather Service predicts fine and dry conditions in the mid-20s for the rest of the week.