Safety concerns were raised with the NEWS after a damaged storm-water drain was left unrepaired even after it was reported.
Charmaine Botha, an employee of an Eastleigh business, said the open hole poses a danger to pedestrians.
Botha reported the open drain to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality on April 19.
She said to date nothing has been done.
The drain is located at the end of Diaz Street, where the street meets the five-way intersection.
Botha said the area is busy and carries a large amount of foot traffic.
Eastleigh Primary School is located just up the road from the intersection.
Botha said learners walk past the opening during the mornings and afternoons.
“The open hole is dangerous – someone could fall in and die or injure themselves,” said Botha.
The damaged drain on Diaz Street is just one example of the deteriorating condition of storm-water drains in Edenvale.
Councillor Heather Hart (ward 18) said some of her concerns about Edenvale’s storm-water drains include a lack of maintenance and EMM’s response to the concerns.
“Most storm-water systems in Edenvale are generally clear, particularly in the main thoroughfares, and are not blocked with debris, although the covers might be damaged,” said Hart.
In some areas, however, the storm-water drains are blocked.
Hart said litter is sometimes dumped into the drains.
She believes the drains are often damaged by heavy-duty vehicles or normal vehicles and, sometimes, through vandalism.
“If damaged storm-water drains are not attended to, they become dysfunctional, which ultimately leads to water run-off,” said Hart.
A request for comment was sent to the EMM, asking when the damaged storm-water systems in Edenvale would be attended to.
