The City of Ekurhuleni has rejected allegations of poor workmanship relating to broken geysers and plumbing faults in the newly built walk-up RDP units in Parkdene, Boksburg.

Beneficiaries of the Leeuwpoort Housing Project, who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation, claim that since moving into the government-issued units in November 2022, they have been grappling with persistent plumbing and geyser malfunctions – issues they believe stem from substandard construction.

During a visit to the property this week, the Boksburg Advertiser was taken on a guided walkabout by residents, revealing widespread defects across the new development. Several units showed visible water leaks at meters, inside bathrooms, and through the walls. In multiple homes, repeated plumbing failures have caused wall cracks and blistering paint, indicating deeper structural concerns.

Despite numerous complaints lodged with the authorities and the service provider, residents say many of the faults remain unresolved.

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City rejects allegations, insists quality checks were passed
Responding to the Advertiser’s request for comment, the city moved to ‘set the record straight’, asserting that the units were built according to required standards, thoroughly inspected before occupation, and passed all quality control checks.

With residents presenting ongoing evidence of faults and the city standing firmly by its quality assurances, a critical question arises: who is not telling the truth?

Residents describe ongoing frustration
Despite the metro’s assurances, resident said their experience tells a different story.

“In just a few months after we moved in, some residents began noticing leaking pipes and damp, mouldy bathroom walls and floor. Soon, many others were experiencing the same issues,” explained one of the residents, whose sentiments were echoed by many fellow residents, including elderly people.

“Although the contractor eventually attended to some of the problems months after the complaints were lodged, the faults returned almost immediately. As you can see, the floor near the pipes and meters is constantly covered in small pools of dirty water, which we have to wipe up every day.”

Another resident described an eight-month struggle to get help for plumbing issues.
“At my unit, we spent eight months requesting assistance. When the contractor refused to help, saying the warranty had expired, the municipal project manager intervened and repairs were made in March 2025, but the problem came back just two months later. Five months have now passed without help,” the resident said.

“They claim our warranty period has ended, even though we were verbally assured of a three-year guarantee.”
Residents also raised concerns about multiple geysers bursting.

“Many are now broken and unsafe. We were told we are on our own. It feels like the contractor deliberately waited for the warranty to expire,” one resident alleged, adding that the situation reflects ‘poor workmanship and a lack of accountability’.

City cites professional oversight
Metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the project underwent stringent quality assurance involving several professional bodies, including the NHBRC and the Gauteng Provincial Human Settlements Quality Assurance Directorate.

“These bodies conducted independent inspections and issued the necessary sign-off certificates,” Dlamini said.
“Professionally certified plumbers carried out the plumbing work, and registered engineers confirmed that the units complied with safety and construction standards. Certificates of compliance and a one-year geyser guarantee were provided to all beneficiaries.”

He added that the City Planning Building Control Inspectorate issued occupation certificates only after completing its own inspection process. Residents also signed happy letters when they moved in.

Warranty period clarified

Residents insist they were promised a three-year workmanship guarantee and say contractors have refused to fix defects. Dlamini disputed this, stating that the project included a standard one-year defect liability period, which the contractor honoured, and exceeded by continuing repairs well beyond the 12 months.

He pointed out that once the defect liability period ends, responsibility shifts to the homeowner, who had already signed the happy letter confirming the unit was handed over in satisfactory condition.
Dlamini added that post-occupancy assessments show the Leeuwpoort Development has delivered some of the best-quality units in the city.

What happens next?
Residents argued that the problems are far too widespread to be dismissed as isolated cases, and added that the majority of the RDP beneficiaries comprise of elderly people, unemployed, and people in low-income brackets and already battling to put food on the table.
Meanwhile, the city maintains that any outstanding issues fall outside the warranty period and must be addressed by homeowners.

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