Residents call for urgent repairs at Birchleigh Library

Birchleigh residents have raised concerns about ongoing water leaks and the deteriorating condition of the Birchleigh Library auditorium, warning that the issues are affecting the facility’s safety and usability.

The problems, which residents say also affect the Wynand Marais Community Hall and Birchleigh Clinic, have reportedly been raised repeatedly by community members, staff and through ward committee structures for more than a year.

Despite escalation to the relevant City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) departments, residents claim they have received limited feedback and seen little progress.

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Friends of the Kempton Park Libraries chairlady Jeanette Gunningham said she first noticed the issues in January 2025 and formally reported them on March 19, 2025.

“All groups using this facility are affected, and clearly maintenance needs to be done. The roof is leaking, and there are geyser problems. The walls and ceilings need repair,” said Gunningham.

According to Ward 15 Clr Amanda Davison, water continues to collect around the library, with the leaks indicating possible problems with the pipes, drainage, or the roof.

She said the municipality has not yet confirmed the cause of the leaks or provided a timeline for repairs.

The auditorium, which serves as a venue for community meetings and programmes, is reportedly becoming increasingly difficult to use due to damp conditions and ongoing maintenance concerns.

“Following multiple site visits, clear signs of water damage and poor maintenance remain evident. Reports submitted to Council have not resulted in meaningful action, and there is no indication that repairs have been prioritised.

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“While delays may be linked to slow response times, budget constraints and poor coordination, these cannot justify the continued neglect of essential community infrastructure.

“I will continue to escalate this matter, demand clear timelines and ensure accountability. Residents will be kept informed as we push for urgent intervention.

“The continued neglect of the Birchleigh Library is unacceptable. The City must act now to repair the leaks, restore the facility and ensure it is safe for community use,” said Davison.

Ward 15 Committee member for Social Housing and Rental Affairs Committee (SHRAC) Faith Ngako said concerns regarding the facility have been reported on several occasions.

“Last year, the MMC conducted a site visit, and we were hopeful that it would lead to improvements. Unfortunately, no progress has been made.

“SHRAC made follow-ups and Amanda escalated the matter to Real Estate, but we did not receive feedback. Cases were closed without being resolved.

“In March, we again reported the burst water pipe, but the Customer Care Centre mistakenly dispatched the meter team instead of plumbers,” said Ngako.

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She added that the condition of the roof and kitchen also remains a concern.

According to Ngako, Real Estate requested a requisition from Felix, which has been submitted several times, but the matter remains unresolved.

She further stated that a previous incident report indicated: “Incident acknowledged: Sewer blockage, Sewer, Ref No: 0175 of 2024/07/17.”

Ngako said Felix later informed her that their internet was down, and after requesting that email trails be checked to confirm dates, a new reference was logged on July 10.

Kempton Express approached the City of Ekurhuleni for comment on July 14 and was provided a deadline of July 20. However, no response had been received from the City by the time of publication.