Brakpan service delivery issues: councillor gives feedback

• Stoffberg Subway

According to Pretorius, the Roads and Stormwater Department has given its assurance they are still giving the project their full attention.

Last year, the Herald reported the department would finally be attending to the drainage problem at the subway, which has been prone to flooding for many years (Stoffberg subway flooding problem to be fixed).

Heavy rain usually causes major flooding in this underpass and numerous motorists have been caught in life and death situations.

Investigations revealed the problem was the collapse of the main drainage pipe under Station Road, which caused a blockage which then resulted in the subway flooding.

READ: Video: Minibusbestuurder uit watermassa in duikweg gered

Pretorius noted the community’s concerns about the dug-up section of Station Road with seemingly little progress being made.

“The delay was due to the department waiting the arrival of specialised equipment and material to ensure this matter gets resolved, rather than being temporarily fixed,” he explained.

“I can confirm work has started again.

“Making this a priority, I will continue to apply relevant pressure to ensure the replacement of the drainage pipe entirely to ensure the water can flow freely and the subway does not flood.”

• Grass cutting

Pretorius confirmed no grass cutting is currently taking place within the ward.

“I am saddened, disappointed and outraged by the state of the parks and other areas within the ward that are supposed to be maintained by the municipality,” he said.

“The Metro Parks Grass Cutting Policy clearly indicates how the municipality should deal with grass cutting metro-wide.

“One of the points the policy indicates is that parks should be maintained in four cycles a month.

“The policy also indicates that ward councillors should receive this schedule to enable them to keep the department accountable and their residents informed, but it is obvious this is not happening and as residents of Brakpan we are lucky if the grass is cut four times a year.”

Pretorius told the Herald he receives complaints from residents on a daily basis, and that even the local EMPD and SAPS have raised concerns as the tall grass makes residents more vulnerable to crime.

Pretorius believes illegal dumping has also increased significantly.

“According to information received, grass-cutting tenders lapsed in June 2019 and since then the City of Ekurhuleni’s administration has failed to award new tenders for the current financial year, and we are moving towards the end of this financial year already,” he said.

READ: Grass in Dalview area not maintained

“The reason for the collapse of maintenance is obvious with poor planning being the only issue here.

“The local parks department does simply not have the manpower or equipment to maintain the grass cutting schedule within the ward without the contractors.

“Currently for the whole of Brakpan we have two tractors cutting grass.

“There is also the concern that when the grass finally is cut, there is no cleaning up afterwards and areas sometimes look worse after the grass has been cut.”

Pretorius can be contacted on 083 308 7821.

ALSO READ: Council working on horticultural maintenance backlog

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or Stacy Slatter (news editor) stacys@caxton.co.za

 or Miné Fourie (journalist) minev@caxton.co.za

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