South Crest Residents Association initiative yields desired results

The recent persistent rainfalls have resulted in substantial parts of Pieterse Street in South Crest to wash away leaving the road extremely dangerous to drive in.

The severe damages left residents with no choice but to close the road as the damages were communicated by WhatsApp in the South Crest Residents Association (SCRA) group.

SCRA was established later last year to uplift the area and address challenges facing the community. Moreover, the organisation was founded to safeguard, advance, and defend the rights of its citizens and to oppose any action judged harmful, while restoring the residents’ and the community’s sense of pride.

The director of SCRA, Deidre De Carvalho, said that to block off the road, Natalie Meyer lent her barriers, and Eben Hulley from EB Security came out and put reflective tape there.

The road was closed on January 5.

“These actions of closing off the road have totally secured what is a very dangerous road. Residents are slightly inconvenienced however better safe than sorry,” she said.

When the City’s Road Department was contacted, they assessed the damage and provided a projected time frame for the road’s repairs. The department also agreed that the road was dangerous and should be closed off.

“In just one year the SCRA has accomplished and completed many projects and many more are planned. Our committee is growing and due to the large number of residents who have joined the committee we are now able to allocate portfolios and deal with problems and services more speedily,” Deidre expressed.

Deidre told the Alberton Record that they have a good relationship with the council and their staff and things seem to get resolved as they are always willing to help and go the extra mile to help the municipal in fixing damaged things in the community.

De Carvalho told the Alberton Record that the City of Ekurhuleni contractors were already repairing the damaged area on the road, on January 12.