Part of a ceiling at a local private student residence recently collapsed. This is according to Zander Prinsloo, a student living at The One Stellenbosch.
Prinsloo claimed he was informed by the building management that the collapse on 17 August was caused by a faulty connection point in a pipe, which was dislodged due to water pressure.
Part of the damaged ceiling on the fourth (top) floor at The One Stellenbosch. This picture was taken on Monday, 18 August, the day after the incident. PHOTO: Kyla Laing
‘It suddenly started leaking hot water’
Late in the evening on Sunday, 17 August, water started streaming through the light fittings in the ceiling of the fourth floor, according to another student, who lives on the third floor at The One Stellenbosch. The student agreed to speak to SMF News on condition of anonymity, in fear of their lease not being renewed.
“It suddenly started leaking hot water from the lights on the fourth floor, which quickly escalated to multiple lights flowing with water,” said Prinsloo.
Due to the pressure and the weight of the water, the ceiling collapsed, claimed Prinsloo.
“All that was left was one massive hole in the ceiling,” he said.
This picture of the ceiling damage on the fourth floor at The One Stellenbosch was taken on Monday, 18 August, the day after the incident. “The rooms that were majorly affected were 4112, 4111, 4110,” said a student who resides at The One, and wanted to remain anonymous. PHOTO: Kyla Laing
The aftermath
The rooms surrounding the initial pipe burst sustained minor water leaks on their floors, said Prinsloo.
According to Leon Rossouw, developer and head of rentals at The One, a total of 48 square metres of the ceiling was damaged due to a water leak.
The One brought in industrial vacuum cleaners at 3:00 on Monday, 18 August, the morning after the ceiling was damaged, and all water was cleared by 6:00, said Rossouw.
What appears to be water damage on the door of one of the rooms on the fourth floor of The One Stellenbosch, after a ceiling collapsed on 17 August. PHOTO: Kyla Laing
However, the fourth floor has been experiencing issues with leaking water since June, claimed the anonymous student. According to the student, there were also leaks on the third floor in July.
“Everyone around me (third floor) was experiencing it,” the student claimed.
A WhatsApp message, believed to have been sent by a representative of The One, and which was shared with SMF News, appears to confirm that there were water leaks in the units on the third floor in July.
When asked about allegations that there has been an issue with water leaking from June or July already, Roussouw denied this and threatened SMF News with legal action.
“Please don’t say that, because then I’ll sue you for defamation of character,” he said. “You can’t say that. That’s not true at all.”
A video of the ceiling collapsing at The One Stellenbosch on Sunday, 17 August. VIDEO: Supplied/Zander Prinsloo