On the road to ruin
He added that motorists can expect to use the detour road for the next year or two.
During a crime-prevention operation in Brakpan last week, the EMPD’s By-Laws Enforcement Unit and Brakpan precinct officers confiscated equipment suspected of being used in the commission of illegal mining near the Plastic City informal settlement.
DA ward councillor for Ward 97 in Brakpan, Brandon Pretorius, believes the intervention is a little too late.
The equipment was seized on Wednesday.
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This is after EMPD officers, who were patrolling along Main Reef Road, were stopped and approached by concerned members of the community about ongoing illegal mining in the vicinity. This section of the road has been closed since November.
EMPD members responded and uncovered one abandoned wheelbarrow, seven spades, several steel rods, 10 empty 25l containers, two picks, a water pump and rubber and plastic hoses near the informal settlement.
“SAPS from the Brakpan Police Station were summoned to the scene and the confiscated tools were impounded for safekeeping,” said Kobeli Mokheseng, EMPD spokesperson.
Mokheseng added that all officers present during the operation had to evacuate the area due to unstable grounds.
“Working together with other law enforcers, we will, in intervals, monitor the affected area,” he said.
Pretorius told the Herald it does not help to applaud the EMPD, as they have done the community no favours by merely doing their jobs.
“I certainly would not pat myself on the back for the action taken now whilst the obvious, which now comes to them as a shock, has since before my term in office been a major problem,” he said.
“The continued damage to this road could and should have been prevented.
“There are numerous individuals and departments at fault that should be held directly accountable for the major damages.
“It is sad that the failing administration cannot see the impact their ignorance has resulted in. There is a complete disregard for the outcries of the tax-paying residents of Brakpan.
“That very same road, which is now closed, was daily being used by different authorities and officials within the local municipal structure including EMPD and SAPS members. They decided to turn a blind eye as if it was someone else’s job to resolve the matter.”
Pretorius told the Herald he has engaged the local roads department and pleaded with them to improve the detour route as soon as possible.
In addition to illegal mining activities, the recent wet weather has left the road undrivable.
“The detour road, which is used by residents and the very same authorities, is falling apart. It seems that the only people recognising this reality is us the residents,” he said.
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“It has become a daily norm that people within high ranking positions within the Ekurhuleni municipality need to be reminded of their responsibilities.
“Believe it or not but Brakpan has a senior management structure in place, they are just nowhere to be found.”
He added that motorists can expect to use the detour road for the next year or two.
“The damages caused to Main Reef Road has escalated to a point where this project will probably be bigger than the Snake Road project,” he said.
“We have unfortunately not yet received responses from parliament on the questions asked by DA Member of Parliament Ashor Sharupen with regards to this matter but will certainly revert to the community as soon as possible.”
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