Water leak causing array of problems for Alphen Park residents

The pipe is adjacent to Mercury Street.

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Rob McMaster, one of the directors of the Alphen Park Homeowners’ Association, said the pipe has been leaking since September.

“It has been fixed before, but the lining that was added is not strong enough,” he said.

He said massive amounts of water are being wasted due to the leak. The constant fresh water has also resulted in a spur of vegetation.

“Last September there were fewer reeds and plants, but now it is out of control,” said McMaster.

He said as a result of the high reeds and dense vegetation, squatters are now living in the reeds.

He said when he contacted the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM), staff informed him the residents must first find alternative accommodation for the squatters before they can intervene.

McMaster said the squatters go through rubbish to find recyclable materials.

“What they can’t recycle, they throw in the river or field,” he said.

One of the squatters, who asked not to be named, said he lives there as he has nowhere else to go.

He said he goes through the rubbish produced by the houses in the area to collect recyclable materials he can sell.

When asked what he does with the excess rubbish, he said he walks to the opposite side of a dam to throw it in a rubbish bin.

McMaster’s neighbour, Willem Koekemoer, said he found his belongings among the squatters after his home was broken into between December 26 and 28.

Benoni SAPS spokesperson Capt Nomsa Sekele confirmed a case of possession of stolen goods was opened and three suspects among the squatters were arrested.

She said the suspects appeared in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court on January 4.

They will appear again on January 23 for bail applications.

Ward 28 Clr Malanie Haggard said the squatterswere removed twice last year by the EMPD, but not much more can be done as by-laws state they must first be given alternative accommodation.

“The province does not supply enough shelter for the homeless,” said Haggard.

She said the leaking pipe had also been brought to the attention of the EMM numerous times last year.

“I requested a site meeting with top officials,” she said, explaining it could only take place in the week of January 15 as most top officials were attending the ANC’s national executive committee meeting the previous week.

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