Residents in Bekezela Township in Filabusi say unusually heavy rains have exposed underground water tables, leaving some homes sitting on saturated ground and raising fears about 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 many years.
Modylen Hlongwane, whose home has been affected, said water is 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 area were facing 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.”
She added that soakaway systems were failing due to pressure from the rising groundwater, causing water to spill onto properties and making access roads muddy.
“Even cars struggle to get into yards because of the mud,” she said.
Engineer Mthoniselwa Ndebele of the Insiza Rural District Council said the situation had taken residents by surprise because the area is historically characterised by low rainfall and a deep water table.
“The magnitude and effect anticipated might have been lesser due to the available hydrological history of Filabusi,” he said.
He 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 reduce pressure on the local water table.
However, Mr Ndebele warned that engineering solutions might not be sufficient in all cases.
“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 increased. The Civil Protection Unit was put on high alert, and space was prepared at a local school to accommodate families in case of evacuation.
Authorities say assessments are continuing as they weigh both immediate mitigation measures and longer-term planning options.