Still no solution for Sand Street residents
These visits are becoming a norm for residents as they have become accustomed to visits with no permanent solutions.
Over the last few years, we’ve been covering the issues of Sand Street, in Riverlea. On November 21, the street was once again visited by officials from the City of Johannesburg and these visits are becoming a norm for residents as they have become accustomed to visits with no permanent solutions.
Residents of Sand Street have been affected by the overflow from the Jukskei River when it rains. This is due to the build-up of soil in the stream and on top of it the excess water from when it rains drains at the mines, from Bosmont and Pennyville all meet and create a flood in street.
When it rains the residents cannot exit their homes because the water its levels rise and even go into the homes. In a previous article on Sand Street, it was mentioned that residents even shock when they open their gates or tapes because their electric box is half covered in water.
Snakes, worms and sewage water along with toxins from the mines all get washed up into the area and it could take a few days for all that water to subside. Over a few months, there is an area when you come into the street where water lays stagnate and stinks up the area.
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Ward Councillor Basil Douglas said: “I worry about the people here because they suffer from respiratory issues and they have blemishes on their skins.”
The councillor has brought many officials to the area this year and there still hasn’t been a solution. According to resident Ismail van Wyk, after 6 pm the smell becomes worse and they have noticed that all of the neighbours have red eyes and itchy skin.
Children play in the water and even though many organisations and researchers visited the area, the community is still unaware of why there’s such a strong smell and why it’s affecting them so badly.
“We are sick and tired of all the blaming. If we can maybe sit down with the people who will be doing the work here, we can help each other. If we can just get those long boots, I can go show you where the issue is because we’ve been living here for many years.
“We are willing to work. Even if we built those box rocks just as a temporary measure it will help us and it will create a little employment for the people here,” said van Wyk.
The residents also added that the soil in the stream can be removed so that the water can flow.
“The Pennyville Bridge, the gateway is too narrow and if we can just make it a little bigger, it will help with the water flow. A Tractor-Loader-Backhoe (TLB) came and dug trenches but the water keeps on pushing back,” he added.
Officials from the City of Johannesburg took notes on the situation and said that they will call a meeting with residents to discuss a way forward.
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