Reinstatements issues are taking over Randburg’s roads
Reinstatements and open excavations take over Randburg suburbs and there is no action from responsible entities.

Many streets in Randburg are covered in water leaks, sewage spills, and decorated by old excavations and unfished reinstatements.
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The open holes end up filling with water and dirt, and raising safety concerns for residents. Some even block off lanes, causing traffic delays for motorists.

Some reinstatement issues go back as far as two years. When reported, all the residents get is a reference number, and a promise that the issue will be escalated and attended to.
Fontainebleau resident Andre Kruser has logged calls reporting almost every issue that he comes across in the area – from potholes and sinkholes, to reinstatements and excavations. Some of the logged calls go back to 2022, but all he has received are reference numbers and promises that they will be fixed.
“I have been logging and following up on problems. I tend to get the reference number, so that is ok. The problems come in when jobs are not completed, not done, not followed up on, etc. I always request they advise what date any of the repairs will be done. This is never supplied.”

He added that he follows up on jobs that are not completed, but they don’t get back to him. “They do not finish jobs. They forward it to the depot – and that never yields answers or results.”
One unfinished work is the reinstatement on Pretoria Street, in Ferndale. This reinstatement issue is a month away from its one-year anniversary. A water pipe burst led to an excavation and a massive hole, along with rubble blocking the left lane. Almost a year later, the reinstatement job has not been done, and the rubble has not been removed.

Early in August, Johannesburg Water (JW) spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala said that it needed to be re-routed, because it is in line with a storm water drain belonging to Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA). The work was scheduled to take place within a few weeks, but nothing has been done by either entity.
Devon Steenkamp, Ward 134 councillor, explained that his ward is significantly affected by unattended reinstatements, most of which are caused by JW. Their activities often result in damage to storm water drains, kerb inlets, and other critical infrastructure, leaving behind a mess of dirt and rubble, and leaving behind their materials and litter.
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“The core issue seems to lie in the process following repair work. After digging and completing pipe repairs, the reinstatement process is often neglected. No team is sent to properly backfill the area, and any damaged tarred surfaces, or kerb inlets, are not addressed through the established agreement with JRA. This agreement requires JRA to handle tar and related repairs at a cost to JW, but these steps are seldom followed without constant chasing between departments.”
He added that even when JW eventually hands over to JRA, progress is slow due to their reported backlogs and financial constraints.

“I am hoping that with the adjustment budget in February, we will see some momentum in addressing these issues. Furthermore, after July, in the new financial year, there needs to be a strong focus on allocating sufficient funds, specifically for reinstatements, to address the outstanding backlog of decay on our roads and infrastructure.”
Some of the reinstatements that JRA have acknowledged, such as the Ferndale on Republic entrance, are still not backfilled.
Khaya Gqibitole, JRA head of regional operations, confirmed that a delegation from JRA and JW met to discuss resolutions regarding the reinstatement of the damaged storm water pipe and the damaged road section, but the reinstatements are still not completed.

JW were sent questions about the reinstatement issues and some of the unfished work, but they had not replied by the time of print.
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