Year-long water leak still unfixed
Fourways residents are fed up with a deep, water-filled hole leaking for a year on Pritchard Street while Joburg Water requests additional time to respond despite having 12 months to fix it.
Joburg Water asked for an additional 48 hours to answer an inquiry on a leaking excavation that they had a year to fix and didn’t.
Fourways Review reached out to Puleng Mopeli of Joburg Water on July 1 and 2 for comment regarding a large, water-filled hole on Pritchard Street in Fourways that has been leaking for a year.
@caxtonjoburgnorth Ward 115 Cllr Mark Van der Merwe shows a deep, water-filled excavation on Pritchard Street in Fourways that has been leaking for a year, flooding roads and causing potholes while Johannesburg Water fails to repair it despite repeated complaints. Video: Supplied #caxtonlocalmedia #joburgwater #fourwaysreview #fyp #trendingvideo ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
Despite repeated complaints and reports by Ward 115 residents and ward councillor Mark van der Merwe, Joburg Water failed to fix the problem. Van der Merwe described the situation as unacceptable, noting that the leak began in February 2024, started leaking again in June 2024, and had never been fully repaired.
“There’s a hole about two and a half metres deep filled with water, and the water has been running down this road into Witkoppen Road for about eight to nine months. It’s causing potholes, it’s dangerous, and it’s a waste of water.”
Also read: Joburg Water still has no timeframe for fixing the Pritchard Street leak
He confirmed the issue had been escalated multiple times by himself, the Urban Inspector, and residents, but nothing had been done by Joburg Water.
Van der Merwe added that it was not the first time the community had been forced to live with dangerous, open excavations for extended periods. “On the corner of Conduit and Government roads, the community had to fill the excavation themselves after waiting for Joburg Water for over two years.”
Residents are worried about safety risks to children and motorists, further road damage, and unnecessary water wastage amid water restrictions and supply challenges in the city.
Also read: Sunninghill residents buy water pipes as Joburg Water fails to deliver
Joburg Water still hasn’t provided a timeframe for when repairs will take place, but Fourways Review is in contact with Puleng Mopeli of Joburg Water, who said, “I’m still waiting for the response, please note our response is 48 hours so that we can get precise details from technical.”
More information will be provided when they respond to the inquiry.
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