Clr Da Rocha said this activity is illegal.
With the heavy rains, Clr Da Rocha said he has been inundated with calls from residents who are getting flooded.
“I am concerned at the lack of compassion and understanding between neighbours. Some people will see their neighbours being flooded, but will do nothing to assist, even if they have the power to help. Instead, some residents choose to block the storm water drains,” said Clr da Rocha.
He warned residents that blocking storm water from running its natural course is illegal.
“Common decency would say that neighbours should do anything necessary, and in their power, to assist one another. Unfortunately, this is not the case,” said Clr Da Rocha.
According to Clr Da Rocha, what residents do not seem to know or understand is that should a flooded resident take a neighbour to court, the complainant could quite easily win the case and sue the other neighbours for costs if the neighbour has blocked the storm water drain.
“Another thing I have noticed is that some residents divert the storm water to the actual sewer line on their property. I must caution residents against doing this. Should the council find out, there is a hefty fine and it is a bylaw offence/criminal offence to do this,” he said.
The councillor urged all residents who find themselves in this situation to get together and devise a way forward by helping one another.
Clr Da Rocha also urged residents to familiarise themselves with the laws as per the Town Planning Scheme of 1979, as published by the City of Johannesburg (CoJ).
PAR III – USE OF LAND AND BUILDINGS.
15. (2) Where, in the opinion of the city council, it is impractical for storm water to be drained from higher lying erven ,direct to a public street, the owner of the erf shall be obliged to accept and/or permit the passage over the erf of such storm water;
Provided that the owners of any higher erven, the storm water from witch is discharged over any lower lying erf, shall be liable to pay proportionate share of the cost of any pipeline or drain which the owner of such lower lying erf may find necessary to lay or construct for the propose of conducting the water so discharged over the erf.
