Residents have renewed calls for urgent intervention after raising concerns over two uncovered stormwater drains in Sunninghill that they said present a serious safety risk to pedestrians and motorists.

One of the reported hazards is located at the corner of Rivonia and Leeuwkop roads (front of Chilli Lane shopping centre), where residents said the open stormwater drain has reportedly been without a cover for more than a year.

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According to Tracy Kensey, suburb manager for Sunninghill Residents Ratepayers Association, the drain is situated along a busy pedestrian walkway and is especially dangerous after dark due to poor lighting in the area.

Kensey said the issue has been reported on numerous occasions, but no permanent solution has been implemented.

“This has been an open stormwater drain cover for over a year. We’ve pleaded with JRA to assist us. This is a major walkway. There are no lights here at night…We plead with the city to please assist us in covering these storm drains before there is an accident,” said Kensey.

She also highlighted a second concern along Witkoppen Road, where a double-bay stormwater drain has reportedly been missing its cover for months.

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Fourways Review reached out to the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), and they clarified that both Rivonia and Witkoppen roads are provincial roads and therefore fall under the jurisdiction of the Gauteng Province Department of Roads and Transport (GPDRT).

GPDRT was contacted for comment on July 24. Tebogo Ntebe, directorate: communications and media liaison, acknowledged receipt of the media inquiry.

A follow-up was sent on July 28. At the time of publication, no response had yet been received. More information will be provided once it becomes available.

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