Canal damaged further by heavy rains

Stephan Lehman
Residents of Riverleigh complex relived fears of November 2016 after the rains of January 17 renewed their memories of Eastleigh Spruit bursting its banks.
Following the heavy rains, the NEWS met with residents of the complex Les Tindale and Tony Dellas.
On March 31, 2018, a portion of Tindale’s perimeter wall collapsed into the spruit after the ground underneath it was eroded by water in the canal that runs along the boundary of the complex.
The complex is located between Cunningham and High roads in Eastleigh.
Tindale and Dellas, a member of the complex’s body corporate, believe Tindale’s wall collapsed due to the damage to the canal during the 2016 floods.
However, since the wall collapsed, the condition of the canal has only worsened over the years.
Tindale and Dellas highlighted that the canal’s condition worsened after the rains of January 17.
“I believe that this portion of the canal has suffered more damage during this rainy season than all previous years combined,” said Dellas.
He said on the night of January 17, the canal was filled to the brim with water, something which hadn’t been seen since the 2016 floods.
“The water was lapping into my garden. I was quite worried that the water was going to go into my house,” explained Tindale.
“That afternoon reminded us of 2016. Several roads in the area were flooded and were ankle-deep with water,” said Dellas.
Following the most recent heavy rains, another portion of Tindale’s already collapsing perimeter wall fell into the canal.
While on site with the NEWS on January 19, Tindale and Dellas also identified and pointed out pieces of the canal lining that were washed away, locations on the opposite bank that had been eroded and the overall lack of maintenance and repair of the canal.
Dellas and Tindale believe that if the opposite bank, where another complex is located, collapses it may block the canal entirely.
Although Dellas informed the NEWS that a water-use licence was authorised in 2019, the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) informed the publication, in response to a request for comment in 2021, that the lack of a water-use licence caused the delay in repairing the section of stormwater servitude.
CoE head of communication and media relations Nhlanhla Cebekhulu confirmed last year that an environmental impact assessment was approved last February with no objections.
The NEWS was told at the time that the next step in the process would be for CoE to obtain the water-use licence authorisation from the Department of Water and Sanitation.
Following the NEWS' meeting with Dellas and Tindale, Dellas informed the publication that councillor of Ward 18 Heather Hart had asked him for an update on the condition of the canal.
“Both body corporates on either side of the canal face severe risk should the council not do something urgently,” said Dellas.
A request for comment was sent to CoE on January 19 to be received by January 21 at 13:00.
At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.