#Floods – Lack of maintenance has lead to a costly disaster
Clr Rundle estimates that the cost to upgrade the Eastleigh Spruit and to install a new concrete channel along the length of the spruit will range between R5-million to R8-million per kilometre.
- It would cost R100-million to restore Edenvale to the condition it was in before the floods.
- Clr Rundle the spruit was not maintained in the past 22 years and to remedy it will be an extremely costly affair.
Clr Bill Rundle spoke out about Edenvale not being included in a list of towns which will receive focused infrastructure development and maintenance with regards to roads and stormwater.
The NEWS reported last week that at the Ekurhuleni Press Club Meeting of January 27, the MMC of infrastructure services, Clr Robert Mashego, said towns in the far east of Ekurhuleni will receive focused attention. These included Nigel, Springs and Daveyton.
Edenvale was not included in the list of towns discussed by the MMC.
#Floods – Eastleigh businesses face closure after flood damage
“In a meeting with the Ekurhuleni Disaster Management Team I was told that Edenvale is one of three towns which were hardest hit by the floods of November 9,” said Clr Rundle.
Six bridges located along the Eastleigh Spruit were damaged during the floods – some to such an extent that they had to be closed off.
After attending a site visit with members from the Ekurhuleni Disaster Management Team on February 4, Clr Rundle was told it would cost R100-million to restore Edenvale to the condition it was in before the floods.
According to Clr Rundle, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality has declared the whole city a disaster area following the floods but have not specified which areas specifically.
The NEWS previously reported that it asked the MMC, at the press club meeting, whether Edenvale had been declared a disaster area.
Clr Mashego responded that it depends on whether Edenvale was declared a disaster area by the City of Ekurhuleni or the Province of Gauteng.
The NEWS also reported its attempts to obtain clarity and answers, and the city’s plans to deal with Edenvale’s stormwater infrastructure and damage caused to Eastleigh were left unanswered.
“I have asked several times which parts have been declared disaster areas but have received no reply,” said Clr Rundle.
He said the spruit was not maintained in the past 22 years and to remedy it will be an extremely costly affair.
Clr Rundle estimates that the cost to upgrade the Eastleigh Spruit and to install a new concrete channel along the length of the spruit will range between R5-million to R8-million per kilometre.
This will be an additional cost to the R100-million needed to restore Edenvale.
Rains cause floods just days after Humphreys’ warning about blocked stormwater drains
While standing on the rubble surrounding the now inaccessible First Avenue Bridge, Clr Rundle asked why the executive mayor Clr Mzwandile Masina and Clr Mashego had not visited Edenvale.
“The community wants something to be done,” said Clr Rundle.
The NEWS again requested comment from the EMM from its communication department.
The media inquiry was also sent to MMC Clr Robert Mashego.
The inquiry was sent on February 4 at 12.30pm, with a request for comment by February 4 at 3pm.
At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.
