Primrose residents escalate service delivery concerns to City of Ekurhuleni

The Primrose Ratepayers Association (PRA) has once again escalated ongoing service delivery failures to the city, citing worsening conditions related to water, sanitation, environmental management, and public safety.

This is not the first time the PRA has voiced its frustration.

Chairperson of the PRA, David Hutch-Barr, highlights continued inaction by the city, despite numerous complaints and engagements through official municipal channels.

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“The situation in Primrose has deteriorated to an unacceptable level. We need assistance as residents. These our homes we have nowhere to go, so if we don’t fight, what’s going to happen?” said Hutch-Barr.

Mounting concerns from residents

Residents have raised several critical concerns, highlighting both environmental and infrastructure-related challenges affecting daily life in the area.

Among the issues reported are ongoing construction and operational activities that are generating excessive dust, debris, and runoff.

These conditions have reportedly caused damage to private property, vehicles, and municipal infrastructure.

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In addition, the PRA has raised alarm over possible non-compliance with regulations under the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998), suggesting that certain activities in the area may not be adhering to required licensing conditions and environmental standards.

Stormwater and sanitation systems are also under increasing pressure, with concerns that inadequate control measures could result in contamination and negatively affect downstream water quality.

Public safety has emerged as another major concern, with residents reporting the frequent movement of heavy vehicles through residential streets.

These vehicles are allegedly overloaded and travelling at excessive speeds, contributing not only to damage to the road infrastructure but also posing a significant risk to pedestrians and other motorists.

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The association pointed to what it describes as insufficient mitigation measures, including a lack of proper dust suppression, environmental monitoring, and general oversight.

Questions over oversight and compliance

The PRA has also raised broader regulatory concerns, questioning whether current environmental approvals remain valid.

Of particular concern is that the existing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) may be outdated and no longer reflective of current operations or cumulative environmental impacts.

The association believes there is a significant gap in enforcement and accountability, with mitigation measures and monitoring protocols either inconsistently applied or not enforced at all.

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Call for urgent intervention

PRA has requested that the city acknowledge receipt of the escalation and provide a detailed response to these matters.

This response is expected to outline actions taken, findings, and planned corrective measures.

While reaffirming its commitment to constructive engagement, the PRA has warned that failure to address these concerns will leave residents with no option but to escalate the matter further.

This could include approaching oversight bodies such as the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), particularly in relation to the ongoing impact of water and sanitation issues on residents’ rights and wellbeing.

Community growing impatient

Hutch-Barr said the escalation reflects growing frustration among Primrose residents, who say prolonged service delivery failures are affecting not only their quality of life but also property values, safety, and environmental conditions.

“We have been requesting meetings and sharing all the necessary information to show the city how dire the situation is. As the community, we have really stepped up in being involved citizens in ensuring that we maintain our area, but the city is failing us,” said the chairperson.

GCN sent an inquiry to the City of Ekurhuleni, requesting comment by July 20 at 10:00. At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.