ETHEKWINI Municipality has announced that it has completed major stormwater infrastructure projects worth millions of rands in the South Durban Basin, significantly strengthening flood resilience and drainage capacity.

On October 14, eThekwini said it completed projects in Prospecton and Isipingo Beach. In a statement, it said that together, these interventions form an integrated stormwater management system designed through detailed hydraulic modelling of the Prospecton catchment.

The system slows stormwater flows upstream, improves conveyance through Prospecton, and increases discharge capacity to the sea during severe weather events.

Also read: Prospecton infrastructure upgraded for resilience

Completed in June following 26 months of construction, the R180m Prospecton project involved the upgrade of 1.96km of canal infrastructure. The existing sloped canal walls were replaced with a reinforced concrete base slab and vertical retaining walls, substantially increasing the canal’s stormwater carrying capacity.

Additional community benefits include a 1.3km pedestrian walkway and two dedicated taxi lay-bys measuring 150m and 75m respectively. City manager Musa Mbhele expressed appreciation to affected communities for their co-operation throughout the construction period.

“We thank residents, businesses, and commuters for their patience and support during the implementation of these projects. We also urge the public to play their part in protecting this infrastructure by refraining from dumping waste into canals and stormwater systems and by reporting blocked drains to the municipality,” said Mbhele.

Since the South Durban Basin is one of the City’s most important industrial, manufacturing, and logistics hubs, Mbhele said continued investment in infrastructure is essential to ensuring the area’s long-term sustainability, competitiveness, and resilience.

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