Balder Road leak finally fixed, but residents a concerns over road repairs
While Joburg Water has repaired the long-standing leak, residents say the job is not yet complete, pointing to unfinished potholes.
After years of frustration and a failed first repair attempt, the second intervention on Balder Road has finally brought relief to residents, with the long-standing leak now appearing to be fixed, although concerns remain about the quality of the road reinstatement.
Joburg Water spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala said, “The recurrence is linked to the underlying condition of the pipeline, as previously indicated. The affected section forms part of an ageing infrastructure that has experienced multiple failures over time, making it more susceptible to re-bursts even after repairs.”
Read more: April Fool’s for Balder Road as 3-year leak bursts again after fix
What was once described as a single leak turned into a larger project requiring excavation across the entire road.
Resident Susan Mattrom, who has been closely following the repairs, explained the extent of the work carried out.
“Where the ‘swimming pool’ pothole was, they had to dig all the way across the road because there was, in fact, another leak on the other side.
“This turned out to be a massive job, and after having filled the hole a second time, they realised yet again that this was still leaking.
“However, they put in a new water valve and a new column. It doesn’t look like it’s leaking again.”
While the repair of the pipe has been welcomed, residents said the work on the road itself still requires attention.
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Mattrom pointed out that potholes along the road have not been properly addressed.
“You’ll also see that potholes are not filled correctly. They’re still indented, and there are potholes a little bit higher up the road that haven’t been filled at all.
“They need to come back, clean up their work, fill in potholes properly, and re-tar that section where the trench was dug.”
Mosa Makhalima of Johannesburg Roads Agency said, “The JRA is aware of repairs done by JW. The depot is ready to be reinstated, but this cannot be done because of the weather conditions.”
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