A long-standing Edenvale business is calling on the City of Ekurhuleni to stabilise the Eastleigh Spruit before continued erosion causes further damage to its property and puts nearby infrastructure at risk.

Steelcore Heavy Equipment, which has operated in Edenvale since 1970, says erosion along the spruit has caused large cracks to form on its property, with sections of the ground collapsing towards the waterway, reports Bedfordview Edenvale News.

The company, located on Andrew Pretorius Road next to the Eastleigh Spruit, recently approached Bedfordview and Edenvale News to raise concerns about the condition of the spruit and its riverbanks.

Avril Naidoo, from Steelcore’s sales and finance division, said the company’s new owners took control of the business in June and were required by the bank financing the acquisition to ensure the riverbank was stabilised.

Steelcore commissioned an assessment at a cost of R40 000 and was subsequently quoted R665 000 to rehabilitate and stabilise the section of the spruit bordering its property.

Naidoo said the company faces penalties from the bank if the work is not completed by the end of August.

Some of the cracks in the property are reportedly large enough for a person to fit a hand into.

Naidoo said the company’s location is important to its operations.

“There are not many business premises suited for this line of manufacturing of metal components. Additionally, we are close to the major highways, the airport and all our major suppliers,” she said.

She said the company had previously raised the matter with the municipality and that officials had visited the property, conducted inspections and compiled reports.

“It is not like the municipality has ignored our request, but I believe that certain people in the various departments’ hands are tied while there are others who make the decisions regarding the physical work that needs to be done,” said Naidoo.

Concerns raised over municipal delays

Factory manager Paulos Dlamini said Steelcore’s engagements with the municipality began in 2024 after the company noticed that infrastructure connected to a nearby sewer line had become exposed as erosion progressed.

The matter was initially referred to the Water and Sanitation Department. After an official inspected the site, Steelcore was referred to the Roads and Stormwater Department.

Dlamini said a meeting was subsequently held between Steelcore, municipal officials and a neighbouring business.

“The department officials told us and our neighbouring business they would look at solutions, but then everything went quiet up until our loan application was approved,” he said.

Dlamini later met with the new chief engineer in the Roads and Stormwater Department to raise the matter again.

In May, the engineer told him that the department was working on a design for the project, which was 95% complete.

However, Dlamini said Steelcore was not given details of the proposed design.

In June, he was told that the new municipal budget, which came into effect at the beginning of July, could delay the project because funding might be allocated or prioritised for other projects.

Naidoo said Steelcore was willing to contribute towards the work but could not afford to carry the full cost.

“I don’t think it is fair for us as a business to pay the full amount to have the spruit stabilised. We are prepared to meet them somewhere, but we are not prepared to foot the bill,” she said.

A request for comment was sent to the City of Ekurhuleni asking what action it plans to take to address the erosion and stabilise the Eastleigh Spruit, as well as the status of the proposed rehabilitation work.

The municipality was asked to respond by August 14 at 15:00. At the time of publishing, no response had been received.

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