Gauteng province department of roads and transport (GPDRT) is quiet, much like it has been for the past four plus years, about flowing water along Witkoppen Road in front of Henley Business School, leaving residents and students frustrated.

The steady stream of water, which runs along the roadside verge, has raised ongoing concerns about safety and infrastructure damage, with many questioning why a long-term solution has not yet been implemented.

According to Graham Gerrard, from Henley Business School, the water is believed to be naturally occurring.

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“We have a situation where the natural water is running on the side of Witkoppen Road. It is coming from a natural spring under the ground, as far as we are aware. There are a number of students and residents complaining about the water flow, which has been flowing down Witkoppen for years.”

Ward 93 councillor Vino Reddy recently conducted a site inspection with Gerrard to better understand the source and extent of the problem. He explained that while the source may be natural, the infrastructure meant to manage the water is failing. “The issue here is that we need to get Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) and GPDRT involved, so they can best assess how to manage this water flow.

Currently the culvert is not deep enough, or is not sustaining the water in a way that the water just flows over it. It is flowing along the grass on the side, thereby undermining the embankment as well as the road.”

Reddy believes that a workable solution exists, if the water is properly redirected.

“So, if we can get proper water management here, and for the water then to be directed properly onto the culvert and into the river, we should have an equitable solution for this.

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I know it is a question of time and money, but now that we have identified the possible source, we need to get the authorities and the city to act to resolve this for us.”

@caxtonjoburgnorth Ward 93 councillor Vino Reddy and Graham Gerrard from Henley Business School inspect the ongoing water flow along Witkoppen Road and point out the suspected source linked to an underground spring. Video: Ayanda Ntshingila #caxtonlocalmedia #Localnews #johannesburg #SA ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

Highlighting the need for balance, Reddy noted that natural systems should be preserved while infrastructure is protected.

“The water can be harvested or harnessed, but it’s natural, and we should not interfere too much with it. We should actually protect the lands and the grounds that we are on.”

JRA confirmed that the matter does not fall under its jurisdiction.

Follow-up enquiries were sent to the GPDRT, but no response had been received at the time of publication.

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