Stormwater drainage systems

City of Ekurhuleni officials assessing damaged stormwater drainage systems, Photo: City of Ekurhuleni.

City tackles blocked stormwater drainage systems

Avoiding a Khayalethu Magadla incident, the City of Ekurhuleni tackled blocked stormwater drainage systems in critical areas

Stormwater drainage systems

City of Ekurhuleni officials assessing damaged stormwater drainage systems, Photo: City of Ekurhuleni.

The City of Ekurhuleni has ensured that it prevents any potential incidents relating to its stormwater drainage systems.

Today, Friday, 15 July, the City of Ekurhuleni’s officials rolled their sleeves and got on to the business of fixing blocked stormwater drainage systems.

This was part of this week’s edition of the BACK2BASICS service delivery campaign led by Executive Mayor Ald. Tania Campbell which also saw the patching of potholes in Pomona, near Kempton Park.

TRUCKS BLAMED FOR STORMWATER DRAINAGE SYSTEMS BLOCK

Heavy duty trucks travelling in residential areas and the recent flash floods from the torrential rains experienced at the beginning of the year have been identified as the main contributors to the damage to the city’s roads and stormwater infrastructure.

As such, Executive Mayor Ald. Campbell is planning to convene an urgent meeting with industry owners who operate in the Pomona area, close to residential areas.

This is to discuss and find lasting solutions and to look into the idea of utilizing alternative routes to access their properties as opposed to driving through residential areas, to avoid further damage to streets that are not designed for heavy-duty trucks.

“If you are part of the problem, please work with us to be part of the solution,” said Executive Mayor as she invites industry leaders to come up with concrete solutions to challenges experienced in Pomona.

AN APPEAL BY THE MAYOR OF EKURHULENI

In addition, Ald. Campbell pleaded with the residents of Pomona to refrain from illegal dumping of waste as that contributes to the blockages of the stormwater drainage system, subsequently resulting in flash floods during heavy rains.

“Our officials are out and about rehabilitating the stormwater drainage systems in preparation for the coming rainy season. We, therefore, request residents to not dump waste or foreign objects on the system to avoid blockages,” said Ald. Campbell.

The clearing of stormwater drains comes after the death of Khayalethu Magadla who fell inside a manhole in Soweto and took the City of Johannesburg almost three weeks to recover the body of the little one.

RELATED POST: Khayalethu Magadla: Here’s how the beloved boy’s body was found