Republic Road issues spark safety concerns

Residents and commuters in Windsor West are facing hazardous conditions on Republic Road as a massive hole has engulfed the left lane. This is accompanied by sewage overflow from a nearby manhole and has transformed sections of the road into pools of murky water.

The deteriorating state of the road has left drivers navigating through the bumpy road with deep potholes filled with sewage posing serious risks to both vehicles and pedestrians.

Ward 98 councillor Beverley Jacobs has been vocal about the urgent need for action to address the dangerous conditions. Despite repeated reports, the situation remains unresolved.

Jacobs expressed her concerns, stating, “We have asked Johannesburg Water numerous times to deal with the sewage issue. They said that they will and we are still waiting. I contact them often, trying to push this to be fixed. This area is overcrowded. You can find 20 people living in a two-bedroom flat around here. That strains the sewerage system and on top of that, the people frequently flush down tampons, pads, nappies, fetuses, you name it.”

Jacobs explained that while Johannesburg Water has not fixed the issue yet, she has been in contact with them. “Johannesburg Water has pointed out that the infrastructure is old and that the place is overcrowded and I agree with them on that but still, this is not acceptable. It needs to be attended to. The sewage on the road flows into the storm-water drain that leads to the nearby golf course and now the golf course is polluted as well.”

She said that the sewage does not only make travelling difficult for commuters but is also a health risk. “Sewage has been flowing in Windsor West, into people’s yards since last December and now rats have become a problem because of it. It is such a huge health risk and people should not be living like this.”

When speaking about the hole in the road, Jacobs explained that it was dug by Johannesburg Water who was fixing a water-related issue months before. The hole has since been left open posing a safety risk to pedestrians and drivers. “This hole has been in the road for the past three months. This is a very dangerous intersection that often experiences accidents. Imagine what would happen if a car accidentally drove into this hole.”

“The current state of Republic Road is unacceptable and it is one of the busier roads in our area. Then frequent water pipe bursts are also causing damage to the road. The large hole and sewage overflow are not only causing damage to vehicles but also creating health hazards for residents.”

Nolwazi Dhlamini, spokesperson for Johannesburg Water, said that the entity is following up on the issues on Republic Road. Their response will be published once it is made available.”

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