Blocked drains cause severe flooding, residents demand action
Gareth Landon added this issue does not only affect his family but also other residents who run businesses from their homes.
The Landon family of Weston Road in Benoni Small Farms raised concerns about persistent flooding on their street caused by two blocked stormwater drains, which have remained clogged for over two years.
They said the situation has escalated to where properties, businesses, and infrastructure are being severely affected.
Gareth Landon described the issue as a long-standing problem that has worsened over the past two to three years.
“The stormwater drain that channels water into the sand pan in Weston Road is completely clogged with silt. As a result, water from the higher and lower plots has nowhere to go, leading to continuous flooding,” he explained.
According to Landon, residents have reported the matter multiple times, but the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) took no action. He added Clr Nicola da Silva was alerted concerning the issue.
“All we need is for the stormwater drain to be cleared and regularly maintained,” he said.
The blocked drains caused significant damage to the roads, making them almost impassable.
“You can hardly drive here because of the deteriorating state of the road. When there is flooding, my vehicle, when parked on my property, is submerged in three inches of water. The flooding has reached the point where walls may collapse,“ he said.
Landon added this issue does not impact only his family but also other residents who run businesses from their homes.
“When it rains, the floodwater enters properties, disrupting operations and making it difficult to work. The sand buildup causes the blockage. The roads used to be graded until two years ago, but now nothing is done. If the municipality clears the stormwater drains, it would solve half the problem,” he said.
He calls on the municipality to take immediate action before the situation leads to catastrophic structural damage and further health hazards.
“We need urgent maintenance of the stormwater drains and road repairs before the next heavy rains make the problem even worse,” Landon urged.
Clr Jordan Lotriet, who is standing in for Ward 24 Clr Nicola da Silva, who is on leave, said they are still awaiting feedback after escalating the matter to the roads department, the HODs, and other municipal officials to determine when to resolve it.
He added they have been pushing for a resolution; along with addressing other issues that require attention.
CoE responds
City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the City will attend to the blocked stormwater drain on Weston Road by the end of April 2.
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