Residents request answers on repairs
“We need answers and it is time that the City of Ekurhuleni gave us answers.”
Frustrated Eastleigh residents are demanding answers from the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) and requesting Mayor Tania Campbell hears their concerns regarding unrepaired stormwater infrastructure along Aitken Road.
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The infrastructure in question, an attenuation chamber located along the pavement of Aitken Road near the T-junction with Da Gama Avenue, collapsed two years ago.
Ward 19 Clr Bill Rundle previously told the NEWS the collapse was caused by large volumes of storm water being diverted into the chamber from Greenstone into Edenvale.
Since the collapse of the chamber fibre lines, municipal infrastructure and three stormwater pipes meant to direct water into the attenuation chamber from Greenstone are now exposed.
The chamber installed to slow the water from the Greenstone down could not cope with the volume of water and subsequently collapsed.
As a result, the chamber no longer works and two properties located directly below the collapsed chamber are flooded each time there is a rainstorm.
Residents who attended the February 7 meeting, called by community member Sheryl Damerell, highlighted it is not only the two properties closest to the hole at risk of being flooded but other properties too.
“We need answers and it is time CoE gave us answers,” said Damerell.
Although the meeting was just for the residents, Damerell said she is aware that Ward 19 Clr Bill Rundle is actively working on the problem.
She said following the heavy rain in the Edenvale area at the start of February, the site had collapsed more.
Damerell said if nothing is done, additional sections of the affected residents’ walls may collapse or a portion of Aitken Road may fall into the hole.
“This is a huge problem and it needs to be addressed urgently,” said Damerell.
Besides being an infrastructure concern, residents highlighted the matter is a safety risk, pointing out that community members could severely injure themselves if they fell into the hole.
“I think we have been patient enough. We have given the city a chance,” said Damerell.
“If we do not hear from the city soon, we will stand outside the mayor’s office and make sure we get answers.”
A request for comment was sent to CoE on February 8, requesting comment by February 11 at 09:00.
At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.
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