The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has confirmed that it is aware of the damaged stormwater infrastructure near Amarant Street Park and that the matter has been placed on its priority list.

Mpho Maruping, the acting head of the Department of Planning at the JRA, said the issue has been formally recorded by the agency.

“We have the issue registered on our priority list of projects to be attended to, and it will be addressed in due time,” Maruping said.

He added that repairs depend on available funding and how the project ranks compared to other risks across the city.

“Unfortunately, the JRA has a limited annual budget and works with a list of projects based on their priority, like those that are at risk,” he said.

The confirmation follows ongoing concerns raised by residents about stormwater damage along Amarant and Dolfhout streets, where gabion retaining walls were damaged during heavy rainfall in December 2023. Since then, residents have reported ongoing erosion and further deterioration of the stormwater channel.

The problem has been raised several times by residents and the RiverWel Residents Association (RWRA), who have warned that continued delays could increase the risk of flooding and damage to nearby roads and services during heavy rain.

In previous reports published in August and October, residents said the damaged infrastructure had not been repaired and remained vulnerable ahead of the rainy season. At the time, concerns were raised about erosion along the channel and the impact on nearby roads.

JRA did not provide a timeframe for when inspections or repair work will begin. The collapsed gabions remain at the site.

The RWRA chairperson, Newton Kemp, expressed that they are awaiting further communication from the agency and have called for repairs to prevent further damage in the area.

Also read: Residents demand quick Amarant Street gabion fix