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Randburg residents in limbo after storms close popular Delta Park bridge

Randburg residents in limbo after storms close popular Delta Park bridge
Tyres place in the waterway in an attempt to redirect the flow and reduce erosion during floods. (Photo: Julia Evans)
Julia Evans
By Julia Evans
30 Mar 2025
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Heavy storms hit Gauteng last week, flooding roads, homes and even a well-used pedestrian bridge over Johannesburg’s Braamfontein Spruit. Now declared unsafe, the Delta Park bridge’s closure has left residents frustrated, businesses struggling, while erosion along the river is getting worse – all while the city drags its feet on repairs.

On Wednesday, 26 March 2025, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a yellow level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms over Gauteng, Limpopo and  Mpumalanga, predicting localised flooding, structural damage and power disruptions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njnUsA46F30

As predicted, the storms wreaked havoc, flooding a popular pedestrian bridge to Delta Park in Randburg, Johannesburg, causing significant damage to the structure and barriers.




The Blue Bridge  

The Blue Bridge, a pedestrian crossing over the Braamfontein Spruit in Delta Park, has been rendered unsafe following two major storms – first on 5 March and then last week on Wednesday, 26 March.

The bridge, originally built in 2006 to provide safe passage for domestic workers, now serves thousands of residents weekly for recreation and commuting. However, heavy flooding has caused the central joint to dip by about 15 cm, raising safety concerns.

blue bridge The Blue Bridge, which connects Craighall Park to Delta Park, was damaged after heavy storms caused flooding, which damaged the structure. The Johannesburg Roads Agency attempted to close the bridge, but residents and commuters removed the barriers and continue to use it. (Photo: Julia Evans)



Ward councillor Martin Williams confirmed that the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) declared the bridge unsafe after his inspection on 6 March. He said that the bridge had initially been requested by Parkhurst and Craighall councillors as a safe crossing for domestic workers.

This was particularly important after a tragic incident in 2004, where a domestic worker drowned while attempting to cross the river with her children. 

“A lot of people would have been washed away if they’d been anywhere near that bridge the other night,” said Williams.

A sign was put up at the entrance to the bridge to stop pedestrians from using it, but commuters have just bent aside the metal sign and some residents and commuters are still using it. 

The bridge closure has disrupted access for local businesses such as Delta Café, Gerakaris Winery and Caffeine Coffee Cart. 

“⁠We see the restoration of [the] park access as critical for commuters/workers for thousands of people – that’s why it was originally built in 2006 – as well as extensive recreational and fitness use for thousands of residents from far and wide across Johannesburg,” said Markus Borner, chair of the Craighall Residents Association.

Despite years of warnings about the bridge, proactive measures were not taken. The CRA notes that since February 2020, Councillor Williams has repeatedly raised concerns about erosion and structural weaknesses.

Crumbling Braamfontein Spruit


braamfontein spruit path The popular path next to the Braamfontein Spruit is at risk of collapsing due to severe erosion. (Photo: Julia Evans)



In addition to the damage to the Blue Bridge, the storms have exacerbated already severe erosion along the banks of the Braamfontein Spruit. Flooding on the spruit, which runs through Delta Park, has caused the bank to move more than 15m in the past few years, putting popular paths used by dog walkers, joggers and cyclists at risk of collapsing.

Michael Moore, a resident who lives near the river, had his garden and basement flooded during the recent storm.



Councillor Williams said he joined the JRA for an environmental impact assessment on the river bank erosion, but said repairs are unlikely to be prioritised unless there was an immediate threat to life or property.

“It could stay on their priority list forever,” said Williams.

The bank of the Braamfontein Spruit has eroded significantly over time, threatening to collapse a well-used path in Delta Park and even causing flooding in residents' gardens and basements. (Photo: Julia Evans)



braamfontein spruit Braamfonteing Spruit has shifted more than 15m over the past few years, eroding the bank and threatening nearby paths and infrastructure. (Photo: Julia Evans)



erosion Resident Michael Moore put tyres in the waterway in a bid to divert the flow and prevent further erosion during flooding. (Photo: Julia Evans)



tyres erosion Tyres placed in the waterway in an attempt to redirect the flow and reduce erosion during floods. (Photo: Julia Evans)



Community-led initiatives hampered by budget shortfalls

The Craighall Residents Association is spearheading community efforts to address the issue. 

The association’s Borner emphasised growing community support: “Local residents and businesses are working with a task force. Support has been huge. We now need to pull it together with [the City of Johannesburg] to get this fixed ASAP.”

“We can’t let this … be a long-term situation, Delta is one of Joburg’s prime assets,” emphasised Borner. “Popularity and use have grown hugely, especially since [the Covid-19] lockdown.”

However, progress is slow due to bureaucratic delays and the city’s financial constraints.

A statement released on Friday by Williams reveals that no budget allocations are directly earmarked for Ward 90 in the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) tabled in the Johannesburg Council this week. 

Although R53.6-million has been allocated for “Bridge Rehabilitation Renewal Bridges (Pedestrian and Vehicles)” city-wide, there is nothing specifically designated for the Blue Bridge.

“Certainly nothing for the Blue Bridge across the Braamfontein Spruit, which has deteriorated further after the storms,” said Williams.

He has applied for emergency funding, urging residents to include the Blue Bridge in their submissions to the IDP.

Residents are encouraged to participate in the IDP consultation process and make submissions online through the City of Johannesburg’s Fluicity platform. Williams cautioned that attending public meetings may be less effective, advising residents to make submissions online and keep a record.

Conflicting assessments and JRA responsibility

While community initiatives are under way, securing reliable assessments and effective repairs remain challenging.

A private engineer deemed the bridge to be unsafe, while another suggested it was stable for use. Williams stressed that only JRA engineers could officially assess its safety and cautioned against relying solely on private assessments.

“I don't want to encourage anyone to say that that bridge is safe,” Williams said.

Daily Maverick reached out to the JRA on Friday, 28 March, but the agency had not responded at the time of publication. DM

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