OAKDENE – A couple and other residents residing in Maranatha Village, a townhouse complex in Oakdene, are living in hope that work being done on underground pipes will soon be finished and life will return to normal.
“We’ve literally experienced five years of hell,” said the homeowners, who are fed up with their driveway being dug up and all the mess that is left behind. “One of our cars is stuck in the garage, unable to be used. It’s so infuriating.”
Five years ago, storm water drains were unable to cope with a huge deluge of water, resulting in Maranatha Village grounds being flooded and paving destroyed. Severe damage was caused to the grounds and, eventually, JRA (Johannesburg Roads Agency) accepted responsibility but later advised there was no budget to fix the pipes.
“Years later, a contractor has eventually been given the job of sorting out the mess and putting in new pipes,” they said. “The contractor’s team is really working well and at long last there may actually be light at the end of the tunnel.
“Ward 56 Councillor Dennis Jane has assisted us greatly over the past few years and we thank him for going the extra mile. Hopefully, in a month’s time, we’ll be able to take our car out of the garage again and get it out onto the road,” the frustrated couple added.
The residents in the complex have also had to put up without Telkom lines, the stench of sewage and a muddy mess.
