Almost two years after a stormwater infrastructure collapsed along Aitken Road, Eastleigh Ridge, residents are still at the mercy of stormwater that floods their homes and properties.
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This was highlighted during the January 17 heavy rain when the two properties were flooded by the water flowing into their homes instead of the installed infrastructure.
The damaged infrastructure in question, an attenuation chamber, is located along the pavement of Aitken Road near the T-junction with Da Gama Avenue.
The infrastructure collapsed in February 2020.
Ward 19 Clr Bill Rundle previously told the NEWS the collapse was caused by large volumes of stormwater being diverted from Greenstone into Edenvale.
He said the attenuation chamber, which was installed to slow the water from the Greenstone down, could not cope with the volume of water and subsequently collapsed.
As a result, a large hole has now formed where the attenuation chamber was installed.
The hole has not only exposed fibre lines and what Rundle believes are sewerage lines but also exposed the three stormwater pipes which were meant to direct water into the attenuation chamber from Greenstone.
When the NEWS visited the site on January 18, the stormwater pipe exiting the chamber in the direction of Edenvale could not be seen, as it was covered with rubble and debris.
In September 2020, Rundle told the NEWS a directive was given by the speaker of council to the Department of Roads and Stormwater to attend to the issue.
However, at the January 18 meeting, Rundle said despite several site visits by the municipality, little action had been taken.
“The municipality has turned its backs on the people,” said Rundle.
“It’s not only community members’ properties at risk but their lives and health as well.”
Leon Snyman, whose mother lives near the damaged infrastructure, said although his mother wasn’t home during the storm, her home and property were flooded.
Snyman said in some parts of the property the water reached levels between 400mm and 700mm.
He said at one section along the perimeter wall, the force of the water was so great that it broke two slabs at the bottom of the wall.
“Although the three bedrooms are all right, the carpets and some of the furniture in the lounge and dining got wet,” said Snyman.
He said boxes filled with his late father’s belongings were also damaged.
“If the hole and the infrastructure were repaired, I believe the damage may have been less, but I can’t say,” said Snyman.
Rundle said: “The lack of stormwater maintenance in Edenvale is very clear. This was highlighted again by the heavy rains of January 17.”
He said on January 17, the Van Riebeeck and Sixth avenue bridges were underwater and that the First Avenue bridge was almost covered by water.
“Gabions which were recently installed at Central Avenue bridge, which cost R1.8-million, were damaged by the force and the flow of water on January 17,” said Rundle.
He also pointed out that Diagonal Road, a busy network road in Eastleigh’s industrial area, was flooded.
Request for comment was sent to the City of Ekurhuleni on January 19, requesting comment by January 21.
At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.
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