A STORM water tunnel situated on the corner of Annes View Road and Peggy Vera Road in Kibler Park is under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
Reporter Zesuliwe Hadebe was informed of the danger of the tunnel by watchful residents in March, when two attempted housebreaking suspects were caught in the act on Sunningdale Road.
According to the residents, the storm water tunnel has for an unknown period been serving as an easy way in and out of Kibler Park through the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve. Allegedly the criminals commit their crimes in the suburb and then go through the tunnel and disappear with stolen goods into the Nature Reserve.
Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) Marketing and Communications Officer, Bertha Peters-Scheepers, responded to a media enquiry saying:“The tunnel was inspected on April 12. It is a storm water channel. However JRA was not aware of the allegations. This tunnel channels rain water from the western side of Peggy Vera to the eastern side and cannot be fenced as this would cause flooding. This is a waterway that has been there for a very long time and it drains the area to prevent flooding like any other drainage system. This channel is not close to any private property.”
However, the CHRONICLE can confirm that the tunnel in question is in close proximity to homes on Annes View, Peggy Vera and Sunningdale roads.
Mondeor SAPS Communications Officer, Constable Mnguni, was contacted for comment. She revealed that no information supporting allegations that the tunnel is being utilised by criminals have ever been reported to the Mondeor SAPS.
However, she did say that Mondeor SAPS would monitor the area and tunnel in question.
