Progress finally made on Koorsboom Street drainage issues in Randpark Ridge
Drainage issues are a problem in much of Randpark Ridge, says local ward councillor.
Things finally seem to be moving with a water drainage issue in Randpark Ridge that goes back years.
Resident Warren Gratz was at his wits’ end when two articles were published about the matter last year, and he contacted the Johannesburg Ombudsman for help.
Also read: Randpark Ridge’s underground water issues have no end in sight
Also read: Water issues in Randpark Ridge are unending
The Ombudsman sent an allegation letter and request for comment to management at the Joburg Roads Agency, which finally agreed to a conciliation meeting with Gratz on February 28 this year.
It is the agency’s responsibility to maintain stormwater drains and deal with groundwater issues where it affects their public roads.
The gist of the complicated matter is that groundwater is seeping up from the pavement and running onto Koorsboom Street and nearby properties; it is also being diverted from one resident’s property onto the road towards other properties, and all this is causing major potholes as well.
Gratz and other residents have had to spend thousands of rands to strengthen their property walls because of the water.
Resolutions were made at the meeting to find a solution.
Now, on March 30, Gratz said he has heard from the roads agency – it wrote a cease and desist notice to the abovementioned resident to stop diverting water onto the road, though this has not been confirmed by the agency yet.
Questions were sent to agency spokesperson Kelebogile Mafa on February 21 in emails and follow-up emails since then.
Last year, she said measures were taken to alleviate the problem, and so was asked to confirm what these measures were and why the road was still in a terrible state.
She was also asked what can be done going forward and when residents can expect the water to stop seeping through the ground into their properties and the street.
No comment was received by the time of going to print.
Ward 98 councillor Beverley Jacobs said drainage was a problem in much of Randpark Ridge, not just on Koorsboom Street, and she has submitted a written question to the council as to what can be done about this.
Otherwise, she has not heard back from the agency about further plans of action, despite escalating this many times over the years.
Last year, Randpark Ridge Village Association (RRVA) installed fin drains parallel to Seder Street, to remove water that was causing extensive road deterioration. Jacobs said this has helped, but the problem is extensive.
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