Flooding in Vlei Street causes chaos for Kempton Park road users
The low-lying bridge in Vlei Street makes it difficult for residents to use due to it being heavily flooded.
The persistent flooding of Vlei Street in Kempton Park continues to create major challenges for residents, as heavy rains leave the low-lying bridge impassable for both motorists and pedestrians.
On February 18, the rising water levels at Goodies Dam made the area nearly inaccessible, putting lives at risk.
Despite the hazardous conditions, some pedestrians and motorists attempted to cross the flooded low-lying bridge, with mixed success.
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However, as the water level continued to rise, crossing it became impossible for many residents.
According to City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini, flooding can result from blocked stormwater drainage systems, which become clogged with debris carried by heavy rains.
“The city cleans the drainage systems every year in preparation for the rainy season, but we can never predict the full extent of rainfall.
“We are doing our best to minimise flooding, but this is ultimately an act of nature,” said Dlamini.
He explained that flooding is not limited to the low-lying bridge on Vlei Street, as other low-lying areas are naturally more prone to water accumulation.
The flooding caused major disruptions for parents and schoolchildren who rely on the road to get to and from a nearby school.
With water levels reaching almost a toddler’s height, crossing the low-lying bridge became extremely dangerous.
Some parents risked carrying their children across, while others, especially those with more than one child, had no choice but to turn back.
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Pedestrian Tyson Svoboda expressed his frustration with the situation, explaining that he had young children with him and was forced to find an alternative route, which would take an extra hour.
“This is a horrible situation. I think the main issue is that the pipes underneath the bridge are blocked with branches and rubbish, preventing water from flowing properly.
“The water level is nearly as high as this little one’s height, and I’m hoping to get a ride across. If not, we’ll have to take a long detour, which isn’t ideal,” said Svoboda.
While some good Samaritans offered pedestrians rides to the other side, others were forced to turn back as their vehicles were too small to navigate the floodwaters.
Laura de Stefani, a motorist affected by the flooding, said this was her first time experiencing such conditions in the area.
“This is inconvenient because now I have to take a longer route to reach my destination. I use this bridge from time to time, but with the heavy rains, it’s just impossible.
“If I take an alternative route, I’ll arrive much later than planned, and I could even miss my appointment,” she said.
Many of those the Kempton Express spoke to called for a permanent solution to address the issue.
