Bullfrog Pan exceeds 50-year flood line
During dry seasons the water level is very low and the pan is almost completely dry.
Since the beginning of October last year, Benoni has experienced more than 900mm of rainfall that has now caused the Bullfrog Pan to break its banks and exceed the 50-year flood line.
According to Brian Lovell, resident of Evans Road in Jatniel, he has been unable to safely access his property for the past three weeks due to the flooding.
“With the ongoing rain, the lower part of our road, towards the pan, has been washed away. Our gate motor is underwater thus causing electrical faults and rendering it obsolete,” he said.
It is a natural stormwater pan, with no outlet.
Council building guidelines stipulate that any residence within the flood-line around the pan are not permitted to build any habitable structures below this line.
“With abnormal rainfall, the dam continues to fill up until it eventually reaches the flood line and sometimes beyond. When that happens all the properties along the pan are partially flooded,” said Zweli Dlamini, spokesperson for the City of Ekurhuleni.
“This is a natural occurrence and the only way for the water level to drop is by way of evaporation. During dry seasons the water level will be very low and the pan is almost completely dry.”
He said the city cannot interfere with the natural ecological functioning of the fluctuating water levels of this environmentally sensitive pan.
“Pumping the excess water out will be in contravention of the Environmental Act,” he said.
“We understand that the flooding of properties is frustrating, however, we cannot interfere with the natural habitat.
ALSO READ: Residents are fed up with the stink
ALSO READ: Plan to increase bullfrog breeding
