Residents living around Amarant Street Park are bracing themselves for another risky rainy season.

The Roodepoort Northsider previously reported concerns about a repeat of past years, when perimeter walls were swept away and properties along the stormwater channel suffered extensive damage.

Gabions installed at the stormwater drains at Dolfhout and Amarant streets by the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) were badly damaged during heavy rains in December 2023 and have now almost completely collapsed.

Resident Simoné Kemp, whose property borders the channel, fears the banks may erode to the point of breaching her yard.

• Read the initial article here: Amarant Street Park: Greenbelt flooding eminent

“It’s creeping closer to my boundary wall every year. When the channel is in flow, nothing can stop the water. This year may just be the one when my yard becomes part of the stream,” she said.

Kemp added that residents, both individually and through the Riverwell Residents Association, have approached the JRA for assistance but have received no response.

The Northsider sent questions to the JRA. The Acting head of planning, Mpho Maruping, confirmed the entity is aware of the problems at Amarant Street Park.

“We have the issue registered on our priority list of projects to be attended to and it will be addressed in due time. Unfortunately, the JRA has a limited annual budget and works with a list of projects based on their priority in terms of risk,” Maruping said.