Three years of water pipe bursts along a section of road culminated in the complete collapse of the ground – about 2m at its deepest and large enough to fit four cars.

One driver found this out when they drove into the hole the evening after the collapse earlier in the day, thankfully no one was injured. The collapse happened on the corner of Bond Street and Elgin Avenue on the morning of January 9.

The area has been cordoned off for vehicles, but it has not stopped residents and pedestrians walking to the edge and inspecting the site.

“These pipes are continuously bursting and are getting older and more damaged by the day,” complained Ferndale Residents Association co-chairperson Erica de Jager.

He added that he does not hold any hope of JRA reinstating the road any time soon. “Yesterday [January 9] we notified JRA [about the collapse] at 10:30 and they only sent someone after 13:00,” explained Ward 104 councillor Emi Koekemoer.

“They sent one man on his own, like they had no interest in assisting at all. Joburg Water came quickly though, and fixed the pipe.”

Questions have been sent to the spokespeople of JRA and Johannesburg Water.