JRA scrambles to clear blocked storm water drains after Vorna Valley flooding wreaks havoc
JRA teams are finally clearing storm water drains in Midrand, but councillor Annette Deppe says the clean-up comes too late after homes were washed away and long-standing warnings were ignored.
Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has been hard at work in Midrand this past week.
They deployed teams to unblock several storm water drains after heavy rains on December 3 left parts of Ward 132 severely flooded.
The intense downpour overwhelmed the Vorna Valley Vlei, washing away several homes and rendering key roads impassable.
Read more: Potholes push Midrand Ward 132 to breaking point as residents demand urgent action
Midrand Ward 132 councillor Annette Deppe said the storm had a devastating impact on the Halfway Gardens and Vorna Valley areas, exposing long-standing infrastructure challenges.
“The Vorna Valley Vlei was overwhelmed by floodwaters, leading to several houses being washed away and roads becoming impassable due to excessive water accumulation.
The root cause of this disaster lies in the blocked storm water drains, which have not been maintained or cleaned adequately.”
Deppe added that she has been raising concerns about storm water maintenance for months.
“Unfortunately, our calls have gone unheeded, and no budget has been allocated for cleaning the storm water drains. Consequently, our community is now suffering from the consequences of neglected infrastructure and poor service delivery.”
Also read: Sewage leaks, litter and dumping plague Vorna Valley
She said it was unacceptable that residents must continue to bear the impact of avoidable failures. “JRA has consistently demonstrated a lack of performance in Region A, as evidenced by the numerous outstanding issues listed in my monthly reports. These unresolved matters clearly depict a pattern of negligence that must be addressed immediately.”
Deppe called for urgent action to prevent further damage. “I am calling on JRA to prioritise the cleaning and maintenance of storm water drains to prevent similar disasters in the future. We cannot afford to wait any longer, as the safety and well-being of our residents are at stake.”
In response to the crisis, JRA teams have begun clearing storm water drains along Berger Road and other affected parts of Midrand.
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