Douglasdale culvert collapse raises alarm over deteriorating Ward 115 infrastructure
DA Shadow MMC of Transport and Ward 115 councillor call out the city over years of inaction as structural damage threatens nearby infrastructure and residents.
Following numerous reports over ageing and failing infrastructure in Ward 115, councillor Mark van der Merwe invited Democratic Alliance Shadow MMC for Transport, Sean Kreusch, for an on-site inspection of critical stormwater infrastructure failures on February 11.
Van der Merwe took Kreusch and Fourways Review to a collapsed major stormwater culvert along Juweel Street in Douglasdale.
He said he has repeatedly reported and escalated to the City of Johannesburg without receiving adequate intervention or progress.
Read more: Douglasdale outages raise concern despite R150m infrastructure investment in Ward 115
He also explained that the culvert poses serious safety risks if left unresolved, as it channels stormwater from Pick n Pay Douglasdale through several residential complexes before passing underneath Juweel Street and flowing into the Kleine Jukskei River.
Van der Marwe said the large sections of the culvert have caved in, leaving the channel significantly lower than its intended level.
“The level of the culvert is meant to dip down here and pass through archways under the road, but the central archway is completely blocked, and the right-hand archway is filled with debris, rocks and rubble. The walls have also collapsed.”
@caxtonjoburgnorth Ward 115 councillor Mark van der Merwe and DA Shadow MMC for Transport Sean Kreusch conduct an on-site inspection of the collapsed stormwater culvert along Juweel Street in Douglasdale, raising concerns over infrastructure deterioration and potential safety risks to residents and motorists. #Fourways #Ward115 ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
He added that the issue has been ongoing for about three years, raising concerns about the long-term structural integrity of the culvert and the potential risks to nearby infrastructure.
Kreusch said the situation was part of a broader infrastructure crisis affecting stormwater systems across the city.
“This is yet another stormwater crisis within Johannesburg. We are seeing culverts collapsing citywide, which points to neglect, insufficient budgeting and a lack of accountability when it comes to maintaining critical infrastructure.”
He warned that continued deterioration of the structure could threaten the stability of the road bridge above the culvert.
“The walls are giving way, and the blockages are worsening. It is only a matter of time before this bridge is at risk, and that is completely unacceptable,” Kreusch added.
He further called on the MMC for Transport to address what he described as a loss of control over infrastructure budgets and maintenance planning, stating that residents have grown increasingly frustrated with delays in repairs.
Fourways Review reached out to Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) for comment. More information will be provided once it becomes available.
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