Diepsloot community wants answers from JDA

Diepsloot residents have raised their concerns about projects announced by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) at the beginning of this year which has yet to be completed.

The Fourways Review previously reported on the projects in Upgrades in progress for Diepsloot [Week ending 26 March]. The agency completed phase one in 2019 and, according to JDA, the second phase is still underway.

Both phases include the installation of street lights and waste collection areas, and construction of parks with bins and benches.

Diepsloot resident Terrance Tshirangwana claimed, “They [JDA] had started developments to put a field here in 2019 but halfway through contractors left and nothing has been completed since.

“In another area where a park was supposed to be built, there is overgrown grass and open pipes with flowing dirty water.”

Spokesperson for JDA, Elias Nkabinde had previously said there was a delay in completing phase two of the Diepsloot Public Environment Upgrade due to the Covid-19 outbreak and imposed restrictions.

In response to the development of the field Nkabinde said, “The JDA has implemented only phase one and is currently undertaking phase two.

“The park section could not be implemented within the previous phase following a delay in the approval of the EIA [Environmental Impact Assessment] and WULA [Water Use Licence Application] since the works are encroaching into a river stream.”

Diepsloot community members had also raised concerns of a third phase in Ext 13 being implemented before phase two had been completed. “We are not aware of phase three, however, we are currently implementing phase two which is the upgrade of JB Marks [Road] and a section of Peach Road connecting to the R511 on William Nicol Drive,” said Nkabinde.

“The project seeks to address the issue of congestion on JB Marks, and unlock economic opportunities through the provision of trader stalls for informal traders and lay-bys for taxis.”