Stormwater infrastructure is being expanded in Senaone, Soweto, to channel large volumes of water during intermittent rains.
The Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA), a City-owned entity responsible for road infrastructure, is spearheading the project, which began on Tuesday, 8 March.
The entity is replacing the old stormwater system, which is obsolete, with a new one across Region D to avert incidents of flooding, which pose a safety hazard to residents.
The JRA is also carrying out routine maintenance of Soweto’s road infrastructure.
“The project is going well, but, of course, it has its challenges like any other. The intention is to make sure that during stormy rains we have rainwater that is well controlled and managed,” says Cllr Vusimuzi Ngema, who is responsible for the suburbs of Phiri and Senaone.
“Keeping stormwater drains clean and safe requires a collaborative effort. Small acts of accountability and responsibility help a great deal to mitigate the problem of blocked drains,” says the MMC of Environment and Infrastructure Services, Cllr Michael Sun.
Sun notes that following recent heavy rains in Johannesburg, which resulted in flooded roads, the JRA has begun installing new stormwater culverts and underground water pipes as part of efforts to ensure Joburg’s road infrastructure is safe and reliable for local communities. In the next weeks, the JRA team is expected to unblock kerb inlets, reinstate collapsed drain covers and shovel off weeds around kerbs to ensure rainwater flows easily into drains.
“We are installing stormwater culverts and pipes and we currently have three teams. There is a team of sub-contractors that are doing manholes, and two other teams of the main contractor that are installing 750mm pipes and breaking the hard rock,” says JRA Site Agent, Mathapelo Sintu.
Sintu says the JRA team also needs to remove small and large items on the road, including substances such as slits or sand that have fallen from trucks, small vehicle parts, and other refuse like plastic and bottles.
Senaone resident, Florence Mashiane says her food business is severely affected by the operations as motorists find it difficult to drive past the container where she sells because of construction work.
“The construction work is taking place near my house where I normally sell food, not only to the people around my neighbourhood but also from Dlamini and other neighbouring areas. This results in people not being able to come closer, fearing damage to their cars and dust caused by the digging,” Mashiane says.
She’s confident, however, that once construction has wrapped up, her customers will have the convenience of movement.
One of the beneficiaries of the recruitment for the project, Tebogo Gwale who is a general worker expresses his gratitude to the City for giving him a job that has changed his life.
He says he is now able to afford the bare necessities at home.
“I was unemployed before getting this job. There is nothing more frustrating than job hunting, but I was fortunate enough to get this job from the City and I am incredibly happy and grateful for this opportunity,” Gwale adds.
The JRA has called on the community of Soweto to refrain from disposing refuse and other unstainable items into stormwater drains and to report all infrastructure defects via Twitter, Facebook, and the customer contact centre: 0860 562 874; alternatively, residents should email the JRA’s hotline@jra.org.za.
Written by Gontse ‘GeE’ Hlophe
08/03/2022