Johannesburg Water has confirmed that it has repaired a water leak at a business property on Old Pretoria Main Road in Midrand, following complaints from local councillors and business operators.

The utility’s spokesperson, Nombuso Shabalala, stated that the leak was attended to and repaired on June 1.

“In light of the concerns that have been raised, Johannesburg Water is conducting additional investigations to verify all relevant facts and establish the full circumstances surrounding the matter.

Read more: Persistent sewage overflows get Joburg Water to respond

We will provide an update once the investigation is complete,” said Shabalala.

The water leak reportedly flowed unchecked for more than two weeks. Ward 132 councillor and Midrand Constituency chair Annette Deppe, along with Ward 110 PR councillor Graham de Kock, visited the site on May 28, where the leak had allegedly remained unresolved despite being reported to Johannesburg Water.

“This area is in Ward 92 and Ward 110…. We received a call from a company in Midrand stating that a water leak at the entrance of their premises had been present for 14 days.

They were given a reference number, and although Joburg Water came out to inspect, they stated they would return to fix it. Yet, they have not come back,” said Deppe before the repairs.

The leak had created a large excavation at the entrance of the property, limiting access and raising concerns about its impact on daily operations.

“Beyond the water loss, this leak affects their fire hydrants as well,” said De Kock during the visit. “It is the only source of fire protection this building has at the moment. If there is a fire, not only are the building and its contents at risk, but also people’s safety. Therefore, this infrastructure must be repaired as soon as possible.

Also read: Councillors slam Joburg Water delays over water leak threatening Midrand business

“Now that the city is aware of the situation, according to the relevant regulations, if they do nothing and a problem arises, they could be held responsible. This issue cannot be left unresolved for too long; fixing it must be an absolute priority.

He added that if the city aspired to be a world-class city, it needed to act like one by addressing issues as they arose.

“They likely have enough personnel, but the problem may stem from not having sufficient funding or materials for repairs. It is all well and good to dig a hole and investigate, but leaving it unresolved is not acceptable. The job must be completed before moving on to the next issue.”

Artur Weissnar, the property manager for Tiger Auto Investments, expressed that businesses depend on efficient municipal services to operate effectively and remain competitive.

“I oversee all the buildings we own, and as our councillors have expressed, I cannot say it better than they have.

All I can add is that we, as business operators, strive to run our businesses as efficiently as possible.

We need partners who share the same goals so that our businesses in Johannesburg can thrive,” he concluded.

Follow us on our WhatsApp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!