Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has committed to addressing the storm water crisis on 18th Avenue near Bovet Primary School within two weeks.
This follows mounting concerns from residents about the constant flow of wastewater caused by clogged storm water drains. The issue was first escalated to Ward 76 councillor Zandile Mothupi in January, and later reported to Alex News, as conditions worsened with ongoing rainfall.

Read more: JRA promises action on 18th Avenue’s persistent drainage woes

Resident Lisa Mdakane, who initially raised the complaint with the publication, stressed that children cannot even play in the street. The problem, to her, was closely tied to service delivery failures in the area, because they had reported the matter multiples times without getting any solution. “What makes me so sad, is that they want us to vote in the upcoming local government elections, but there is no service delivery.”

Subsequent follow-ups revealed that many residents in the area shared the same frustration. Makhosazana Twala noted that heavy rains leave streams of contaminated water flowing down the road, depositing a black residue that poses health risks to residents and learners at Bovet Primary. “It is too close to the school, and there are informal traders who usually sell food and snacks to learners here.”

Residents also complained that the deteriorating road surface makes it difficult for motorists to pass through, and e-hailing drivers often refuse to enter the area due to the crumbling pavement. Twala said this leaves many residents stranded without reliable transport.

Also read: More flooded roads in Alexandra leads to JRA clearing blocked storm water drains

On March 19, Mothupi confirmed that the matter had been brought to her office earlier this year, and that she had raised the matter with JRA. JRA head of department for regional operations Khayalethu Gqibitole confirmed that the agency subsequently inspected the site on March 24. “We have committed to ensure that the storm water line is being attended to on the week of April 7–10.”

While JRA has pledged to unblock the drains, Gqibitole stressed that ongoing human activities threaten progress. “The line was unblocked last year. However, due to ongoing illegal dumping and the continuous discharge of wastewater into the storm water system, blockages are occurring on a regular basis. Maintenance is ongoing, and storm water infrastructure in Ward 76 is being attended to weekly to manage and mitigate these issues.”

He added that inspectors found polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes illegally discharging wastewater from bathrooms and kitchens directly onto the road. This, he cautioned, will make it nearly impossible to keep the road dry and could hinder repair efforts.

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