Featured in the previous issue of Express, the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) was requested to comment on a statement issued by Ward 104 Clr Tracey Lourenco.
The city failed to reply to the initial deadline. Meanwhile, the city released its thoughts on statements made about the Norkem Park Pan issue affecting the residents in Pikkewyn Avenue in Birch Acres.
In a statement released by the city in February, spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said: “The city is aware of the challenge in the area, hence we have been working tirelessly to find a permanent solution to it.”
The city’s ‘tireless efforts to resolve the issue,’ did not, ‘seem to work as well as anticipated’, according to HOD for roads and stormwater department Sizwe Cele.
What is the city’s new strategy and drafted plans to address the water levels?
“Funds have been allocated in the 2021/2022 financial year for the appointment of a consulting engineer to do the necessary investigations and come up with possible solutions,” Dlamini responded on June 11.
Lourenco previously stressed that the city argued that addressing groundwater levels on individual properties remain a private matter to be resolved by the private landowner. Dlamini replied that this is true.
“The city is only responsible for services within the municipal areas and not within private properties.”
He also added that the city is consulting with the original service provider of the pan in which possible short-term solutions to the problems at hand are being discussed.
It was said it requested funding to investigate and implement an improved inlet structure within the multi-year capital investment framework. It was asked when the outcome of this request can be expected.
Again, Dlamini replied: “The city has requested funds to investigate. The new budget for the 2021/22 financial year will be effected on July 1.”
But how does the city respond to such public claims made by the opposition, the DA, serving the residents of Norkem Park and Birchleigh North?
“The city did not ignore residents’ requests. The project was implemented, but the inlet structure of the mechanical syphon system does not seem to work as well as anticipated. The city is aware that the matter has been escalated to the Human Rights Commission (HRC).”
A meeting was held on site with representatives of the HRC, the ward councillor and officials from the city on May 26.
Lourenco confirmed the meeting was held, but that Cele did not attend this meeting and neither did his city colleagues, although he had scheduled the date with the attending parties.
HRC responded by sending the city a summary of everything that was discussed at the meeting as well as spelling out the way forward, according to Dlamini.
As was asked multiple times before, yet never directly answered, officials and residents alike wondered whether the city opened a process to inquire the expertise of a hydrologist and geologist to evaluate the issues presented by the natural water pan.
The promise: “Consultant(s) can only be appointed once the new budget for the 2021/22 financial year is available, which will happen on July 1.”
The city was approached for a media enquiry that included Lourenco’s press release (already published) in which Express requested feedback to the statements she and the DA had made. Additionally, the motion of the community and DA approaching the HRC was also requested for the city’s reaction.
The media enquiry was sent on May 20 and no feedback has been received by the time of going to print originally. The star rating remains at zero.
