Hyacinth remains a problem
Subcontractors were appointed to remove hyacinth at the Brakpan Dam in February but were only required to clean 65 000 square meters of the surface. The hyacinth infestation has plagued the local water body for years.
After more than three years since the closure of Jan Smuts Park, there is slim hope the local recreational facility will be reopening any time soon.
The dam was closed until further notice in November 2017 for the removal of the hyacinth.
According to Brandon Pretorius, DA councillor for Ward 97 in Brakpan, the acting divisional head for parks and cemeteries at the time explained that the City cannot predict the duration of this clean-up.
Pretorius believes the municipality has done nothing serious to try and clean the dam.
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The park also recently underwent an upgrade and boasts all sorts of entertainment features mostly focusing on the youth with a new skateboard park, basketball, netball and soccer courts, as well as an area for younger children with play equipment.
This is yet to be utilised by the general public.
“It is clear the City of Ekurhuleni only continues to fail the taxpaying residents of Brakpan,” he said.
“Their latest intervention at the dam makes one ask whether they are truly wanting to clear the hyacinth from the water body or if they are only using it as a money pit, which they can use to loot taxpayers money.”
Pretorius told the Herald he was notified in February about the appointment of a new contractor to remove the hyacinth.
“I excitedly got his details only to find out that they were subcontractors. I then met with the main contractor who explained to me their scope of work. It was clear that the main contractor had no idea what they were talking about from the get-go,” he said.
“The subcontractors were quite informed and one could see that they were comfortable and knowledgeable about what needed to be done to clear the hyacinth.
“My disappointment came when I heard the subcontractors were only asked to clean 65 000 square meters of the surface whilst the dam, according to them, is about 650 000 square meters.
“It ultimately meant that they would work for three weeks and pack up again. This to me does not make sense as one would have to ask what positive effect it would have on the dam? “The hyacinth would be back quicker than the time it took them to remove it.”
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Pretorius said he has launched an investigation and has posed written questions to the council.
“The subcontractors have the capability of cleaning the dam and it is clear that their equipment can do the work.
The City should stop enriching main contractors as there is no need for them.”
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