Jonathan Thompson, candidate councillor for Ward 87, has called for accountability from Johannesburg Water over a leaking valve in Melville, saying residents deserve clear answers and a repair plan.

A leaking water valve at the corner of Sunbury Road and St Swithins Road in Melville has raised questions about Johannesburg Water’s communication with residents and community representatives, with no confirmed repair plan available. Thompson expressed disappointment over what he described as a lack of meaningful engagement from the utility. “It’s a serious wastage of water and money, and it makes residents angry,” he said.

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Thompson said leaks placed additional pressure on an already strained system while carrying a financial cost, adding that water was running straight into a storm water drain. He said the utility needed to do more than acknowledge complaints.
For Thompson, the issue highlights the importance of communication between Johannesburg Water and the people raising concerns on behalf of residents. He said that when he did not have answers, he preferred to be honest with residents about what he knew and what remained unresolved. He expected the utility to explain the circumstances surrounding the leak and provide a clear plan for addressing it.

Thompson said his role was to escalate residents’ concerns, seek answers and follow up on outstanding matters, while responsibility for carrying out repairs rested with Johannesburg Water. He acknowledged that he had not followed up on this particular leak recently but said he intended to raise it alongside other outstanding issues. He called for an on-site meeting with the utility and a credible plan setting out how the problem would be resolved.

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He also stressed the need for Johannesburg Water to communicate openly with residents and follow through on its commitments.

The publication provided Johannesburg Water with the physical address of the leaking valve on October 13. The entity had not provided a response or a substantive explanation for the status of the leak or confirmed a repair timeline at the time of writing. It therefore remains unclear whether the valve has been inspected, whether remedial work has taken place or when repairs will be completed.

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