STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE PREPARED FOR HEAVY RAINS

Illegal dumping continues to be the leading cause of stormwater system blockages in the City of Ekurhuleni.

The MMC for Transport Planning, Roads and Stormwater, Andile Mngwevu said this during the launch of the  City’s Stormwater System Cleaning Programme in Langaville yesterday.

“We encourage our communities to desist from dumping foreign objects into our stormwater system because the end result is unnecessary blockages, which ultimately leads to flooding,” said Mngwevu.

Vehicle tyres, animal bones and skins, plastic bags and logs were among the objects that were removed from the blocked drains.

“When these drains are blocked, water seeps to the road affecting its surface. That is why we have unending portholes and constant damaged roads. It also makes the streams smell which affects the people. We all need to play our role in preventing blockages of our stormwater drainage systems. It affects us all,” Mngwevu emphasised.

He said that the City will be intensifying cleaning stormwater systems in preparation of the rainy season which has started.