Dangerous pipe burst under streetlight affected residents’ water and electricity supply
The Ward 115 councllor rushed to the scene and left at midnight after confirming that water and electricity were restored to residents.
Ward 115 experienced a dangerous pipe burst under a streetlight in Swallow Close in the Norscot Slopes Security Village recently.
According to Eskom spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena, the cable that runs near the leak was switched off as a safety measure to ensure that it does not pose a risk when the City’s employees are working.
Ward councillor Mark van der Merwe was on site from 10:00 and by 23:30 he was still trying to help. When he arrived on site, he met with Johannesburg Water employees who were attending the scene.
“The streetlight was leaning over due to the surrounding soil being waterlogged,” said van der Merwe.
“This was one of the most difficult excavations I have seen. Three residential connections were coming from the main feed pipe and seven Eskom cables crossed over exactly where the excavation point was. The TLB (Tractor Loader Backhoe) driver was exceptional in digging with not a single cable being damaged.”
Teams on the scene worked throughout the night and only left after the councillor received confirmation from residents that both their power and water had been restored.
Related article: Burst and vandalised pipes leave communities without water
