Homes washed away as Vorna Valley Vlei overflows
Calls for accountability are intensifying for Midrand residents as the JRA faces criticism over delayed maintenance and ongoing service delivery failures.
Midrand residents are counting the cost of last week’s heavy rains as the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) races to unblock stormwater drains that left large sections of Ward 132 underwater.
The December 3 deluge overwhelmed the already stressed Vorna Valley Vlei, washing away several homes and turning key routes into rivers, exposing deep-seated infrastructure failures that residents say have long been ignored.
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.
Read more: Potholes push Midrand Ward 132 to breaking point as residents demand urgent action
“The Vorna Valley Vlei was overwhelmed by floodwaters, leading to several houses being washed away and roads becoming impassable due to excessive water accumulation,” said Deppe. “The root cause of this disaster lies in the blocked stormwater drains, also known as KIs, which have not been maintained or cleaned adequately.”
Deppe added that she has been raising concerns about stormwater maintenance for months.
“Unfortunately, our calls have gone unheeded, and no budget has been allocated for cleaning the KIs. Consequently, our community is now suffering from the consequences of neglected infrastructure and poor service delivery.”
She said it was unacceptable that residents must continue to bear the impact of avoidable failures.
Read more: Ward 110 councillor accused of non-communication by resident association
“The 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 the JRA to prioritise the cleaning and maintenance of stormwater 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 some stormwater drains along Berger Road and other affected parts of Midrand.
Follow us on our WhatsApp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates!
