ABERDEEN – Several towns falling under the jurisdiction of the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality were struck by unexpected thunderstorms accompanied by intense rainfall recently.
On 10 February Aberdeen recorded 55 mm of rain, while 50 mm was measured within Graaff-Reinet itself and 75 mm in the Berg-en-Dal area.
In Jansenville, rainfall reached 60 mm in the space of just one hour on the same day, but on 12 February this increased to 100 mm within 30 minutes.
While the downpour has been welcomed as long overdue, it has also exposed serious shortcomings in infrastructure, as stormwater management systems in several towns appear to be obstructed.
This has led to flooding, resulting in significant damage to residents’ properties.
In the aftermath of the storm in Aberdeen on 10 February, FF Plus councillor Adriaan van Heerden submitted an urgent request to Municipal Manager Dr Edward Rankwana, calling for immediate attention to what he described as a critical matter.
In his written communication, he conveyed appreciation for the rainfall but pointed out that insufficient upkeep of drainage canals and irrigation furrows has once again culminated in significant damage to privately owned property that may give rise to civil litigation against the municipality.
He noted further that repeated representations and appeals made by himself and other community members to both the Municipal Manager and the Director of Infrastructure Services, Bennie Arendse, have yielded no tangible results.
In his view, this fosters the perception that Aberdeen has effectively become the municipality’s “forgotten child.”
Van Heerden has accordingly urged the municipality to:
• Submit to the community a detailed action plan and clear timeframe for restoring and maintaining the drainage canals and irrigation furrows in Aberdeen,
• Commission an independent inquiry into the recurring failure to render this essential service, and
• Assume explicit responsibility and accountability for the losses already suffered.
The impact of the apparent failure to maintain stormwater management systems has not been confined to Aberdeen.
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Several businesses and residences in Graaff-Reinet were likewise inundated due to blocked stormwater drains, prompting residents to question whether the municipality intends to accept liability for the resulting damage.
An enquiry concerning these matters has been submitted to the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality on 11 February, but to date there has been no response.
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