Councillor Bill Rundle disappointed with Aitken Road project

Following a collapse at the construction site of the Aitken Road attenuation chamber, Ward 19 Clr Bill Rundle and affected residents are at their wit’s end with the completed project.

The project, which according to Rundle was meant to be completed by August, was handed over to contractors at a site handover meeting on June 21.

Present at the June meeting were Rundle, consultant Tsianeo Malange of Shuma Africa, contractor Mokgadi Rapetsoa of HLTC (Pty) Ltd and the CoE’s project manager Frank Phahlamohlaka from the Department of Roads and Stormwater.

At the time Malange estimated that it would take several weeks to complete as the project, was considered to be an emergency.

ALSO READ: Stormwater repairs along Aitken Road to start in May

When Bedfordview and Edenvale News visited the site with Rundle and community liaison officer Pretty Blose on September 5, it was informed that the collapse occurred on September 4.

Blose said the collapse happened at 14.30 while the contractors were on lunch.

She said heavy machinery was removing soil from the open excavation and placing it on the surface of Aitken Road.

It is believed that the road was unstable and this is what led to the collapse.

Following the collapse, a portion of Aitken Road, between Da Gama and Ferdinand avenues, was closed.

A temporary road for residents was created through the nearby Seringa Park where work, linked to the project, is also ongoing.

ALSO READ: Repairs process underway on Aitken Road

Speaking to a contractor in the park, the News learned that one of the contributing factors as to why the attenuation chamber originally collapsed was because the stormwater pipes installed did not interlock.

According to the contractor, this allowed water to erode the structure and impair its integrity.

“I don’t know how to express my dismay and disappointment,” said a frustrated Rundle.

Rundle said following the collapse, he plans on approaching the public protector so the project and all involved can be investigated.

He also intends to request a forensic investigation to be conducted into the project.

“I have been doing this job for 13 years and this project is the worst example of failure by the municipality,” said Rundle.

Although problems surrounding the site extend several years back in early 2020, the attenuation chamber collapsed.

Rundle attributed it to the large volumes of water diverted from Greenstone into Edenvale through the chamber.
He said the chamber was not designed to cope with so much water and subsequently collapsed.

Over time, the hole created by the collapse grew as soil eroded, causing frustration in the community because it seemed that repairs would not happen.

Work on the project started last year, yet it stalled at the end of November after the contractor abandoned the project.

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In April, the CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini confirmed with the News that the previous contractor appointed last year abandoned the site.

He said the city would appoint a new contractor so that would resume.

At the time, Dlamini said the CoE had spent R895 787 on the project. Another R600 000 is needed to complete it.

With the rainy season almost upon the community, Rundle expressed great concern for the two properties directly affected by the open excavation.

Last year community member Leon Snyman, whose mother stays on one of the affected properties, said her property was flooded when heavy rains fell.

Snyman said the situation surrounding the project has left him upset.

He said after contractors removed an electrical cable, which he and his mother were not informed about, his mother was left without power for two days.

“My mom had to come and live with me for those days. We originally thought it was load-shedding but the power never came on,” said Snyman.

After visiting the municipality to report the matter, a technician was sent out and only then was it discovered that the cable was dug up.

ALSO READ: Eastleigh repair work to restart

Snyman said following the collapse of the road, he doesn’t know what is going on with the project anymore. He said he was sick and tired of it.

Snyman said his mother’s property remains affected by last year’s floods.

“The rain is almost back again and nothing has been done, We are going to have that same problem and water will flow into the property. My mom is so scared, we don’t know what to do,” said Snyman.

A request for comment was sent to the city of Ekurhuleni on September 7, requesting comment by 14:00 on September 8. At the time of going to print no comment was received