New hope for long-suffering Korsmans Conservancy under new Ekurhuleni leadership

by Cllr. Mary Goby — DA Councillor in Ward 28, Ekurhuleni

Date: 26 January 2022

Release: Immediate

Type: Media statement

The Korsmans Conservancy in Benoni was neglected for years under the previous administration, led by the ANC coalition government, which can be characterised as a period of declining service delivery.

The lack of maintenance or repairs to infrastructure within the Conservancy, which is designed to facilitate water flow in the Pan, is now at a critical level of disrepair. The sewerage pump has not been fully operational, and with no spares available, water levels have reached unprecedented levels resulting in flooding onto the adjacent road known as ‘The Drive’. The recommended water levels should be 20 meters inside the fence, as a result of the heavy rains, all the manholes servicing the Conservancy are underwater. Unfortunately, this flooding is having an adverse effect on the rich plant and birdlife of the area.

The previous appointed contractor removed the pump that was used to drain water from the Pan in 2019, meaning that the area has not been properly drained since 2016. When drainage does occur it runs alongside the golf course in Divot Street under Lakefield Avenue and finally into Middle Dam. Due to the recent heavy rains and the lack of drainage from the Pan, the golf course has to make inconvenient provisions to ensure that drainage flow is not interrupted. This drainage is having the effect of flowing into Benoni’s other dams and contributing to their respective water levels, leaving them in danger of overflowing.

As the Ward Councillor, I escalated the issue to the MMC for Water, Sanitation and Energy, Cllr. Senzi Sibeko, as well as the MMC for Infrastructure, Cllr. Themba Kalipa, who held a site meeting on the 19th of January 2022, and subsequently ensured the installation of a pump to help alleviate the raised water levels. While these pumps are running smoothly, the DA requested that residents remain patient as it will take some time before the water drains below the 20 meters inside of the fence. Thereafter, we will be able to assess any infrastructural damage as a result of the flooding.

With these interventions, residents can expect the state of the Conservancy to dramatically improve following years of neglect from the previous administration. The DA is pleased with the immediate reaction and intervention by the Multi-Party Coalition in Ekurhuleni and the urgency in which it is addressing these issues.

Cllr. Mary Goby

DA Councillor in Ward 28, Ekurhuleni

082 679 7109