Progress reported on key Brakpan infrastructure projects following MMC visit

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17-06-2026
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Brakpan Herald
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Flood-prone roads, a collapsed stormwater drain and ongoing drainage issues were among the concerns assessed during an oversight inspection in Brakpan.

The City of Ekurhuleni’s MMC for Development Planning and Real Estate Department, Ald Dino Peterson, conducted an oversight visit to Ward 97 in Brakpan last week to assess progress on several key service delivery challenges affecting residents.

According to Ward 97 Clr Brandon Pretorius, the purpose of the visit was to engage with relevant municipal departments, conduct site inspections, and obtain feedback on ongoing interventions relating to four priority concerns within the ward.

These concerns are:

Collapsed stormwater drain

As previously reported by the Brakpan Herald, a long, deep ditch appeared in the playground of the park at the corner of Lester and Trollip streets in Brenthurst.

The ditch was hidden by tall grass, and there were concerns it would collapse into the stormwater pipe below, which itself is several metres deep.

Many residents use the park, and many school children from nearby Hoërskool Die Anker pass through.

“Following investigations by the Department of Water and Sanitation, it was determined that the sinkhole was caused by a collapsed stormwater drain beneath the park,” said Pretorius.

The oversight visit also included the problematic section of Main Reef Road near The Rock Raceway, where persistent water seepage continues to delay the implementation of a permanent repair solution. PHOTO: Supplied

“A contractor has since been appointed to assess the extent of the damage and develop a detailed scope of work to facilitate the necessary repairs.

“During the site visit officials confirmed the steps that will be taken moving forward. The next formal progress report is expected by June 19.”

Stoffberg subway

Findings earlier this year confirmed that the issues with the subway were not surface-related, but stemmed from a failure in the underlying stormwater infrastructure.

The subway has been prone to flooding for many years. More recently, deteriorating road conditions, including an eroding surface and potholes, made it a significant hazard to motorists.

Preliminary assessments in January identified that the concrete stormwater canal adjacent to the railway line had significantly deteriorated and may have partially collapsed.

This resulted in stormwater infiltrating the surrounding soil, becoming trapped, and forcing its way up through the pavement layers to the road surface.

It was further established that the weep holes, which are designed to relieve hydrostatic pressure behind the retaining wall, were no longer functioning.

Successive resurfacing raised the road level and effectively sealed the outlets, allowing pressure to build up behind the structure and accelerating damage to the roadway.

“The visit to the subway was accompanied by a firm commitment from the contractor and municipal officials that the project remains on track for completion by the end of June in line with the timeline communicated on May 15,” said Pretorius.

“Concerns were raised regarding perceptions that work on site had slowed or been abandoned during the past week.

“The contractor assured us and residents that there is no cause for concern and confirmed that work is continuing as planned.

“Current efforts are focused on addressing drainage challenges that were uncovered. Weekly site inspections continue to take place to ensure proper oversight and to monitor progress towards meeting the end-of-June completion deadline.”

The collapsed stormwater drain beneath a Brenthurst park was inspected during an oversight visit aimed at assessing progress on key service delivery challenges affecting residents. PHOTO: Supplied

Intersection of Main Reef and Hospital roads

Long-awaited repair work at this intersection started on May 25. The damaged section of road, with potholes described as craters, has for months posed a serious hazard to motorists.

Dozens of motorists have suffered tyre and wheel damage to their vehicles after striking the potholes, with drivers often forced to swerve to avoid them.

This intersection carries heavy daily traffic in and out of Brakpan North, making the deteriorating condition a major concern

Residents previously complained to the Herald about reporting the issue to the City of Ekurhuleni on multiple occasions, to no avail. A trench along this road was cleared to improve water flow and reduce road flooding.

“Significant progress has been made at this intersection with the project expected to be fully completed within the next two weeks,” said Pretorius.

“The drainage issues along Hospital Road have been resolved, and the site visit confirmed that the culvert is now open and directing water through its naturally intended flow path.

“Feedback from the roads department indicated that ongoing canal maintenance and cleaning will remain essential to preventing future flooding.

“One of the primary contributing factors to the flooding was the blockage of the canal leading from the Brakpan Dam by invasive water hyacinth plants together with other debris and obstructions.

“The final outstanding component of the project is the completion of road patching works.”

Main Reef Road near The Rock Raceway

Pretorius told the Herald the section of Main Reef Road passing The Rock Raceway remains a significant concern and currently has no                        permanent solution available from the municipality.

“The road continues to experience persistent water seepage largely as a result of ongoing works being undertaken by the human settlements department,” he said.

“These conditions are preventing the roads department from implementing a lasting repair solution.

“In the interim, the roads department has committed to once again undertaking temporary remedial measures to improve road conditions while efforts continue to secure accountability and the completion of the human settlements project.

“Together with MMC Peterson, we will continue to advocate for urgent intervention to enable a permanent solution to be implemented.”

Pretorius added he remains committed to keeping residents informed as progress is made on each of these matters.

“Three of the four issues highlighted directly affect the primary routes in and out of Brakpan, making their resolution a matter of urgency,” he concluded.