Construction delays in Schaapkraal leave residents frustrated and vulnerable to flooding
Image: Supplied
Residents of Schaapkraal who for years appealed for decent roads now have a new worry, as contractors hired by the City have delayed construction, causing further damage to their homes and vehicles.
In several letters and correspondence shared with the Cape Argus, irate residents said excavations have been left wide open.
They also said the four-month project is now six months behind schedule with no explanation or communication from the City regarding the delay.
'Residents often discover excavations outside their driveways only when attempting to leave, posing risks in emergencies,' said residents in a joint communication about their grievances.
'Despite meetings and the contractor's inclusion in a WhatsApp group, communication remains poor, with residents initiating most discussions.
'Construction has occurred daily, including weekends and late nights, without prior notification.
"Recent rains have brought constant night work from pumps and generators, also unannounced.
"Unforeseen water shutdowns left residents without alternatives, forcing water purchases."
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad loading
The residents said they had to inquire about refuse collection during road closures, leading to instances where waste trucks couldn't access the road.
'The contractor had to assist in moving bins. The contractor admitted a poor initial pipeline installation, and despite multiple attempts, faces ongoing challenges without informing residents of the issues or mitigation plans,' they added.
They said another risk was that children had to walk through active construction zones with heavy machinery due to inaccessible scholar transport.
Ward councillor, Elton Jansen, said he was aware of the residents' grievances and that he had raised their concerns with officials.
'I note with the same concerns and urgency with the situation in 8th, 9th, and 10th Avenue as well as the flooding in various parts of Schaapkraal i.e. Schaap Road, Vlei Road,' he said in a letter shared with the Cape Argus.
'I understand the frustration and even though some of the insults are aimed at me as the councillor of the area I can assure you I am and have on an ongoing basis raised this with senior officials to deal with it and communicate with us on the ground what their plan of action is.
'I have inspected the pumping, and it is a waste of time.
'I drove the gravel roads, and it's unbearable to drive.
'I visited some residents who were affected by power outages as a result of the flooding and thanked them for their patience.
'I will be back in the area again to continue with my flooding inspections as various people, including informal settlements, have been severely affected.'
Residents in Schaapkraal have been waiting for new roads and repairs.
Image: supplied
Last year the City's mayco member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas, said priority would be given to major roads such as Boundary Road, Vlei Road, Kraal Road, Boom Road, Middle Avenue, and Olieboom Road.
In response, the City on Thursday said two departments will meet on Friday morning and provide feedback in the afternoon. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.
Cape Argus
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
6 hours ago
- The South African
Second fire sweeps through informal settlement in Plettenberg Bay
A second fire swept through the Bossiesgif Informal Settlement in the early hours of Thursday morning, just days after a previous blaze devastated the area. While the exact number of shacks destroyed in this latest fire is still being verified, no injuries or fatalities have been reported. This fire affected a different section of the settlement than the one hit on 4 August, when a blaze -reportedly caused by a brazier (imbawula) – left over 300 people homeless. The Bitou Municipality has activated its disaster management services and is currently assisting residents on the ground. Humanitarian relief organisation Gift of the Givers has also stepped in to support the community with aid. Authorities are working closely with affected families to assess damage and provide temporary shelter, food, and basic necessities. This second incident in less than a week highlights the ongoing risks faced by those living in informal settlements, where open flames for heating and cooking often pose a significant hazard. The municipality has reiterated its commitment to supporting victims and exploring longer-term solutions to improve safety and living conditions in the area. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
a day ago
- The South African
Bobby gets adopted - SPCA concerned over online animal cruelty
The SPCA has shared another heartwarming update about Bobby, who went from starving and neglected to now being adopted into a happy home. The female dog made headlines after she appeared emaciated and in poor health in a video posted by a social media influencer. Her owners, as well as the content creator, are facing charges of animal cruelty under the Animal Protection Act. On the X platform, news was shared that Bobby had found her forever home after being adopted. Bobby was placed for adoption last month at an SPCA branch in Boksburg. In images posted on social media, she now appears happy and healthy. From being severely malnourished and living outside in the cold, Bobby now has a garden to play in and a warm bed to sleep on. 'She is the most lovable dog, handing out kisses to everyone since the moment she arrived! Forced to eat plastic to survive, Bobby was found severely malnourished, suffering from fly strike, and covered in ticks and fleas', the SPCA shared after rescuing her from her neglectful owners. Meanwhile, the SPCA has noted with concern many more alarming videos of social media influencers featuring starved and abused dogs in their posts. The SPCA shared in a post, 'Online animal cruelty is rising, and you can help stop it. Every report matters. Every voice counts.' The animal activists shared practical advice on how to help protect animals online. It included: Don't engage – commenting or sharing spreads the content further. Report it to the platform using in-app tools. Alert SMACC – search 'SMACC Report It Hub' to submit cruelty found online. If filmed in South Africa, contact the SPCA via DM or email: nspca@ You can also report cruelty on their website by clicking on the 'Report Cruelty' button. Send evidence – links, screenshots, usernames. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NSPCA (@ Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
a day ago
- The South African
Gauteng records over 600 000 online school applications for 2026
More than 600,000 successful applications have been submitted for Grade 1 and Grade 8 placements across Gauteng, just two weeks after the 2026 Online Admissions system opened. MEC for Education Matome Chiloane confirmed the achievement, describing it as a strong sign of public confidence in the province's education system. 'As of 14:00 on Tuesday, 5 August, the system had recorded 600 936 applications, 254 251 for Grade 1 and 346 685 for Grade 8,' Chiloane said. Parents and guardians who have not yet applied are urged to complete the process before the deadline on 29 August by visiting The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) emphasised that incomplete applications will not be considered, and all applicants must follow the five-step application process. Parents are also required to upload certified copies of necessary documents online or deliver them to selected schools within seven days of applying. Once documents are submitted, schools will receive prompts to verify and update their status. SMS notifications will confirm when documents are verified, and parents should retain all communication for reference. To ensure no child is left behind due to lack of internet access, the department has set up 81 decentralised walk-in centres across the province. Additionally, all Gauteng public schools are available to assist with applications. Parents should apply to at least three and no more than five schools to improve placement chances. From 16 October, those with complete applications will receive placement offers via SMS. The GDE contact centre remains open for support, offering assistance via toll-free phone, WhatsApp, and email. With nearly a month left before the deadline, the department remains hopeful that more parents will take advantage of the system. 'We continue to urge all parents to apply online,' said Chiloane. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
