For years, 2nd Street in Wynberg has frustrated motorists and residents alike.
Stretching from Vincent Tshabalala Road down to the Pan Africa Shopping Centre, the road carries hundreds of motorists heading to the shopping centre and the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court. Yet instead of being a reliable thoroughfare, it has become a lightning rod for criticism, crumbling under the weight of human activity.

Read more: Bovet Primary School learners endure the stench of wastewater on neglected 18th Avenue

During a recent visit, MMC for Public Safety, Mgcini Tshwaku, expressed concern about the state of the road. “It is dirty, it is cramped, it has stinking water. It is a public space and a government space, and if you have buildings that are really dirty, it questions our leadership. What kind of leaders are we?” he asked.

City officials have not been blind to the problem. Service delivery operations, often led by MMCs Mlungisi Mabaso and Eunice Mgcina, have targeted the area with interventions. Last year, an illegal recycling spot cluttered with abandoned vehicles and bags was cleared, and dangerous electricity connections feeding power to the nearby informal settlement were dismantled.

These efforts brought some relief, but the road itself remained untouched. On the right side of 2nd Street, particularly near the council informal settlement down to Watt Avenue, wastewater constantly flows from the settlement. The persistent waterlogging has eroded the underground layers, making asphalt repairs nearly impossible.

“You cannot fix a road that is wet underneath,” explained Makgafela Thaba, regional director for Citizen Relationship and Urban Management (CRUM). “The water has to be managed first.”

Also read: City launches wastewater treatment plant

In previous by-law enforcement initiatives, Thaba cautioned informal traders against setting up tables on the walkways. Tshwaku complimented these efforts, noting that CRUM is already winning the fight to clean the area. “It looks better than it was before. The CRUM team has done a sterling job. But now it is up to the infrastructure guys to just get it going.”

Thaba revealed that the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) is ready to act, but the challenge lies in access and water management. Closing the street for repairs has been considered, but officials worry about disrupting access to the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court. For now, the city is caught between the need for reconstruction and the realities of daily life in the area.

Still, there are signs of progress. Thaba confirmed that the mayor’s office has referred the matter to his department, and that JRA stands ready to begin once water management issues are resolved.

Alex News reached out to both Johannesburg Water and JRA for comment on March 12. Both JW and JRA acknowledged the query. On March 12, JRA spokesperson Bertha Peters-Scheepers said the entity will try to revert within four days. On March 18, JW communication officer, Nolwazi Dhlamini, said the entity will provide a response within its standard turnaround time of 48 working hours, depending on the complexity of the matter and the input required from relevant technical departments.

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