St Andrews residents fear flooding as Jukskei River erosion threatens homes
Years after the 2016 floods, properties along Willow Crescent in St Andrews face renewed risk as the Jukskei River embankment continues to erode, raising urgent calls for city intervention.
The rainy season evokes fear in residents with properties close to the Jukskei River on Willow Cres in St Andrews.
Their fear comes after 2016’s floods, which damaged some properties. Resident Hilda, who has lived on her property for 31 years (and requested her surname be withheld for fear of victimisation), shared how the floods had damaged her tennis court.
Hilda said the 2016 f lood affected the highway, and the wall on house number one fell when the water rose to the top of the bridge.
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She said her tennis court flooded, cracked, and lost its original colour. It cost her about R10 000 to erect a wall around the court as a barrier.
Currently, it looks like the other side of the court is sinking, while the river embankment is eroding towards her property.
“When city officials came in 2016, they fixed only the right side of the bridge by inserting gabions. On the left side of the river, behind the first house, which is next to mine, they put only sand and left it like that. They said there was no money, and they would return. However, nothing has been done,” said Hilda.
Annually, since 2016, Hilda has reported this issue, especially close to the rainy season.
“I went to the Department of Parks. They said it was the environmental department’s duty to cut trees on the other side of the river. I have reached out to almost all departments,” said Hilda.
She added that they didn’t have all those trees before, as the area was well–taken care of.
“By law, we are not allowed to cut vegetation belonging to the municipality,” Hilda acknowledged. Ward 20 Clr Jill Humphreys has requested the city’s help since last July.
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Communicating with the CoE in December, Humphreys stated, “To have our residents watch their properties collapse into the river is not a minor consideration.
It is also not the first time this has been brought to the attention of our departmental stakeholders. This could and probably will get much worse, easily and quickly. We are in a climate of change.
The storms are intense, and the rain is relentless. We need urgent mitigation. Please, may we be assisted?”
A request for comment was sent to the city on January 22, and comment was requested by January 26. At the time of print, no comment had been received
