Resident reveals root cause of drainage problems

THE roots of a tree growing on the sidewalk on Problem Mkhize (Cowey) Road have caused a major drainage problem for local resident Strini Naicker, who lives at 170 Problem Mkhize Road and fellow neighbours who live below his property.

Simmone Bouch, who lives in Esselmont Avenue, recently pointed out that the roots of the tree outside Naicker’s property, had lifted the paving so badly that it had created a diversion for storm water. Instead of water flowing past the tree towards a drain further down the road, the roots now forced the water down Naicker’s driveway and straight to her patio which is situated directly below his property.

She said, however, that workers had arrived on site this week, to sort out the problem, and hoped it would be solved soon.

Naicker said he had attempted to have the problem fixed and had been waiting on a response from the Parks Department before any work could be done on the road.

“I first contacted the municipality about the problem last year. I spoke to a very helpful man in the engineering department by the name of Brett, who said they couldn’t do anything to sort out the storm water drainage until the tree had been treated. I have tried to contact the Parks Department, but have not been able to get through to them. On 1 April this year, I was told by the Metro e-Services that the issue would be sorted out in 10 working days, and they have only started working now,” he said.

Naicker said when it rains, the water gushes down his driveway, often getting ankle deep in some places.

“As the roots have lifted the pavement, the water has no other place to go, and it dams up against the wall at the bottom of the property and gushes through to my neighbour. The sand underneath the blocks on our driveway is being washed away and sink holes have developed, some as deep as two meters, which we have had to fill with sand so we could use the driveway. The sand washes into the garages, and the pool at the flat nearest the gate fills up with sand,” he said.

Naicker said he believed the pipes and the sewer system had also suffered damage as toilet at his home only worked at ‘half steam’ and needed to be flushed more than once. The gate motor had also suffered damage as the driveway was collapsing.

For Naicker, the problem had reached breaking point. He said he will have to repair his driveway first before he claims from the municipality, despite the fact they have started working on the problem.

“I can’t even turn my car around outside my house as it is hollow underneath the blocks and could cave in. I will have to fix it and claim back from the municipality. It’s quite a serious situation,” he said.