Floods continue unabated in Edenvale.
“They told me sorry they can’t help me - all emergency services were in Kempton Park.”
After the heavy rains of March 2, thoughts of the November 9 floods came quickly to mind.
Traffic came to a standstill and community members stood in awe as water filled the streets in some parts of Edenvale.
The usually docile and low-lying Eastleigh Spruit became a raging torrent of water.
But, despite the large volume of water in the area, community members relaxed when water levels began to subside and the rain began to dwindle.
After the heavy downpour of March 2, however, community members started to ask why nothing had been done to address the issue of flooding in Edenvale.
Community member Mr Dirk Truter said the heavy rains had raised the level of the Eastleigh Spruit, adding that the water had stopped two metres away from one of the factories on Edendale Road.
“I have not seen anyone from the municipality come to the Spruit and do something about it,” said Mr Truter.
Once the rain had begun Mr Truter said he phoned the municipality to request that the emergency services be on standby.
“They told me sorry they can’t help me – all emergency services were in Kempton Park,” said Mr Truter.
Besides the rising level of the Spruit, on Edendale Road the water filled the street because of a blocked stormwater drain.
Other areas affected by the large volumes of water flowing down the Spruit included the low-lying bridge of Sixth Avenue and Main Road.
Chairperson of the Edenvale Community Police Forum Ms Linda Mckenzie said the debris at the Sixth Avenue Bridge blocked the flow of water and contributed to the amount of water flowing over the bridge.
During the rains Clr Bill Rundle conducted an inspection of his ward to determine the damage.
One of the conclusions he reached was that debris had definitely contributed to the flooding of the Sixth Avenue Bridge.
The NEWS sent a request for comment to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality’s Department of Communication, enquiring when something will be done to address the issue of flooding in Edenvale.
In their request for comment the NEWS also asked why debris still remained in the Spruit four months after the November 9 floods.
At the time of going to print no comment had been received.
