Residents of Cosmo City Ext 8 say illegal structures built on an open wetland have caused flooding, potholes, and cracked walls, and they are accusing Ward 100 councillor Lyborn Ndou of failing to act.

Community member Portia Thulare said the structures, which include what appears to be a tavern and shisanyama, have blocked a drainage line from a nearby wetland. “This rubble that’s been thrown onto the wetland here, it’s blocking the drainage.”

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She added that homes nearby now have mould, and one wall has already been rebuilt once because of the water damage. Thulare said residents confronted the man building the structure, named as Lawrence, who showed them a letter with a City of Johannesburg stamp. “He tells us that he got authority from the councillor.”

A letter seen by this publication, dated April 8, shows Ndou supporting a request from the Mukhuthu Arts and Cultural Foundation to use open land at 45 Burma Crescent for sport and cultural activities. It makes no mention of a tavern or shisanyama.

Ndou provided a written message he sent to Lawrence, which he confirmed as his statement. “I wrote a letter for supporting documents, not approval of what you have done.”

He added that the road had since closed because of the blockage. He instructed Lawrence to remove the structures immediately. “Get a TLB n remove all your mess. You’ve put my name into the mud.”

Responding to further questions from this publication, Ndou said the letter was never meant as approval to build. “The letter to Lawrence is a supporting document, not approval. There is no councillor who approved the land. I gave him the letter to go to City Parks, what happened between City Parks and him, I don’t know.”

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He said he had warned Lawrence beforehand not to proceed without approval, and to consult neighbours about his plans. Ndou said he only learned of the extent of the damage once the road had closed. “The community has the right to complain after the road closure by the water, and everyone, including myself, is worried. I engaged Lawrence to stop continuing what he is doing, but it seems he ignored everything. Now the damage is worse.”

He said his office had raised the matter with Johannesburg Water, which classified the issue as an encroachment rather than a blockage. He said Lawrence had since committed to hiring a company to clear the drainage, and that law enforcement had been asked to issue a notice giving him two weeks to act.

On the reported flooding of homes, Ndou said he had not received any direct reports. “I didn’t hear issues of water flooding to their houses. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a call, or such information, so that I can also access and see how can I assist.” On the potholes, he said road maintenance remained a citywide challenge linked to budget constraints, and fell outside his authority to resolve directly.

When asked what would be done to prevent similar illegal developments in the ward, Ndou said by-law enforcement was already dealing with a number of unauthorised structures in Cosmo City, including carwashes, spaza shops, and churches operating outside approved boundaries, but said resolving all of them would take time.

This publication approached Lawrence, Johannesburg Water, and City Parks for comment and will update the article should a response be received.

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