Deterioration of stormwater infrastructure in Eastleigh Ridge has left much to be desired by property owners and Ward 19 Clr Bill Rundle.
The infrastructure, which collapsed in February before the Covid-19 lockdown, remains in disrepair and the site of a large hole.
The site in question is located on the pavement of Aitken Road, near the T-junction with Da Gama Avenue.
According to Rundle, the problem was created by what he describes as large volumes of water being diverted from Greenstone into Edenvale.
“The chamber, which was installed to contain the water, could not cope with the volume and the pavement collapsed. The water which was meant to be contained and slowed down in the chamber must have leaked out and eroded the soil around it.”
Rundle said because the soil is exposed it is absorbing more water than usual which could form a sinkhole.
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At the site, three large pipes can be seen on the Greenstone side of the hole while only one pipe is allegedly installed on the Edenvale side of the hole.
Rundle said two of the Greenstone pipes have a diameter of 900cm while the third has a diameter of 1.2 metres. Although rubble and soil prevented the view of the pipe leading to Eastleigh, it is believed to be 1.2 metres in diameter.
“Shortly after it was reported to the city, the site was declared an emergency but we are now in September and nothing was done.”
Rundle said after bringing the matter to the attention to the speaker of Council for the City of Ekurhuleni he received some feedback.
“At the start of September, the speaker gave a directive to the Department of Roads and Stormwater to attend to the issue.”
A property owner of one of the affected properties, who did not wish to be named, said he had spent close to R100 000 on remediating his property.
“We are extremely frustrated about the whole situation and are considering taking legal action.”
A request for comment was sent to the CoE on September 9 requesting comment by September 11 at 12 noon.
At the time of publishing no comment was received.
