Recent heavy rains have once again exposed the City of Ekurhuleni’s shocking failure to invest in proper drainage systems across the city, particularly in Tembisa. Poorly designed infrastructure is leaving the residents vulnerable to flooding, property damage, and unsafe conditions. The city’s negligence in addressing these critical infrastructure needs raises urgent questions about its commitment to ensuring the well-being of residents who bear the consequences.
Following the recent flash floods, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng received many complaints from residents in places such as Tswelopele and Duduza in Tembisa complaining about blocked drains, waterlogged streets, poorly designed drains, and the inability of stormwater systems to handle even moderate rainfall. Residents have told the DA that their concerns about the drainage infrastructure have been ignored for many years. This has led to some homes and local businesses being flooded, causing financial losses for families and small businesses already struggling financially.
“The City of Ekurhuleni’s persistent disregard for the residents’ valid concerns regarding the inadequacies of the drainage system is completely unacceptable. The apparent failure to treat ratepayers with respect lies at the root of the inability to find lasting solutions to this crisis,” says Khathutshelo Rasilingwane MPL.
The DA Gauteng demands an urgent intervention from the Department of Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) to:
Conduct an urgent assessment of all failing drainage systems in Tembisa and across Ekurhuleni.
Hold accountable the officials and contractors responsible for poor workmanship.
Implement a long-term plan for improved stormwater drainage that prevents this crisis from happening again.
The DA Gauteng has an Infrastructure Rescue Plan that would improve infrastructure in Gauteng by:
Utilising legislative and financial tools to enhance municipal services by entering partnerships with municipalities to assist with maintenance backlogs.
Balance resource allocation between creating new infrastructure and maintaining/refurbishing existing infrastructure.
Forge partnerships with the private sector, universities, and civil society to pool resources in repairing and maintaining infrastructure.
Only through such efforts can Gauteng residents be protected from the devastating impacts of failing infrastructure.
Media Enquiries
Khathutshelo Rasilingwane MPL
DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Infrastructure Development
072 666 1706
Musa Ngobeni
GPL Media and Issues Specialist
079 806 7439