Excavation on Republic Road affects businesses and causes traffic
Businesses at the shopping centre and the Mercure Hotel have been affected negatively since the excavation, blocking their entrances.
An excavation by Joburg Water (JW) to repair a burst pipe eight months ago has yet to be reinstated.
Read more: JW implementing a strategy to improve reinstatement turnaround times
The massive hole at the intersection of Ferndale and Republic roads is affecting the entrances to a shopping centre, Ferndale on Republic, and the Mercure Hotel.
The spokesperson for JW Nombuso Shabalala said the excavation couldn’t be backfilled because there was damage to a stormwater drain that needed to be repaired by Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA).
In November last year, JRA head of regional operations Khaya Gqibitole explained that the process would take time because geotechnical studies and topographical surveys would have to be undertaken before they could repair the stormwater infrastructure. Once the designs and the scope of the remedial work were finalised, JRA would begin with the repairs.
After escalating the issue numerous times, Ward 102 councillor Lucinda Harman said, “They need to sort the mess out. This has been sitting there since July 2024. It can cause accidents, and it’s not looking after people’s welfare, safety and security and it is their job to do that.”
Harman has written to the Members of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Environment and Infrastructure Services and Transport to address the issue.
Also read: No sign of JW as the water keeps gushing out on Kelly Avenue
The marketing manager at the shopping centre Sihle Bhengu said, “There has been communication [from JW and JRA] but no clarity on possible [repair time]. Together with Mercure Hotel, we communicated with the entities our next steps should there be no firm deadlines and timelines delivered.”
The general manager of the hotel Prisca Hlatshwayo said the excavation presented an enormous risk to their clients and motorists visiting the shopping centre.
“There is an increase in crime at the robots as cars are moving slowly, particularly during peak hours, also pedestrians are being mugged,” she said. “We have lost business, especially international clients, who check in for one night and check out the next day because the area does not look safe.”
She claimed due to the excavation they had no network for more than a week. “Our Wi-Fi and landline connections were affected, and we lost business… we had to arrange for other means in order to stay connected.”
Gqibitole concluded, “We are engaging with our colleagues at Joburg Water to ensure the administrative processes are finalised and the reinstatement is undertaken as a matter of priority.”
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