A section of the Witkoppen Road water pipeline has burst again, just days after Johannesburg Water completed repairs to the infrastructure, causing flooding at the Braamfontein Spruit bridge towards Woolworths in Paulshof.

Ward 93 councillor Vino Reddy alerted residents to the incident on July 14, saying the section of blue pipe that had recently been bolted and welded onto the main line had failed.

“I have advised Johannesburg Water of the burst and will wait on them for information as to how they wish to proceed.”

Read more: Residents call for pipe replacement amid persistent leaks

He urged motorists and pedestrians to exercise caution when crossing the bridge, where water from the burst pipeline had flooded the roadway, making conditions hazardous.

The latest burst comes after Johannesburg Water completed emergency repairs following a major pipeline failure on July 10.

“The exact cause of the burst was identified by the team to be the failure of the VJ coupling (clamp) to hold the pressure at the joining of two steel pipes. Another contributing factor was the change in direction of the pipeline, which was supported by the thrust block that also failed to withstand the pressure,” said Johannesburg Water spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala of the July 10 burst.

Shabalala also confirmed that two Johannesburg Water employees were involved in an incident during the repair operation.
“Johannesburg Water’s primary concern is the safety and well-being of all personnel on site. The employees were immediately prioritised for medical attention as per our safety protocols. The employees are well, and one returned to the site the next day.”

She said the incident had minimal impact on the repair timeline, with work continuing throughout the weekend.
According to Shabalala, repair teams completed welding, positioning, and assembling the pipe, tightening bolts, bedding the pipe, and gradually recharging the pipeline.

Also read: Douglasdale is fed up as pipe bursts leave taps running dry

She added that although water had been restored, further work remained, including monitoring the repaired pipeline, reinstating the thrust block that supports the pipeline, backfilling and compacting the excavation, and fully charging the line while observing pressures.

“The repairs are completed, and water has been turned on. However, while water gradually stabilises, the remaining activities will still have to be completed over the next few weeks, especially the reinstatement work, as this requires planning and assessment by the Johannesburg Roads Agency.”

The water utility has since issued a notice on social media on July 15 about the latest leak. “The team is currently preparing to commence the welding phase of the repair, which is expected to take approximately four to five hours to complete. Thereafter, a thrust block will be constructed and will require approximately 48 hours to cure.

“During this curing period, the water supply will be partially restored at approximately 30% capacity to assist affected customers while ensuring the integrity of the repair.”

Residents in Paulshof, Parts of Rivonia, Edenburg, and surrounding areas remain affected.

“[We] apologise for the inconvenience caused and sincerely appreciate the patience and cooperation of affected residents while our teams work to restore the water supply as quickly and safely as possible.”

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