RISE Mzansi slams Joburg Water over neglect
A water leak in Randburg has been left unattended for five years, wasting millions of litres and creating a safety hazard for children on church grounds.
A water leak inside the Kruispad-kerk grounds at the corner of Elise Road and Malibongwe Drive has been left running for more than five years, leaving residents frustrated and raising serious safety concerns.
The RISE Mzansi municipal task team visited the site to inspect the situation, where a large, water-filled hole remains open despite years of complaints from residents.
Read more: Still no word from Johannesburg Water on the 5-year church ground leak
The party’s national chairperson, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, said the case showed a clear breakdown of leadership and accountability.
“Johannesburg Water (JW) has failed, for more than five years, to repair a single water leak while the city loses almost half of its water before it even reaches taps,” she said.
“A water leak left unattended for five years is not just a failure of maintenance; it is a symbol of failed governance. This is negligence, a lack of accountability, and political indifference from leadership.”
Ramokgopa added that only after ‘sustained pressure’ from the party did JW make any move at all, but still no repairs have been completed. She said residents should demand accountability and not “reward uncaring politicians.”
Also read: Leak insults community already struggling with water shortage
The leak was first reported by the church before 2021, with resident Johan Kruger later taking up the fight. He logged a fault in 2024 and has since sent 29 emails to JW, but with little progress.
“The manager of Randburg Water told me in March that they were sourcing materials to fix the leak. Since then, nothing has been done except digging a three-metre hole in April,” Kruger said.
His concern now is not only the millions of litres of potable water lost, but also the safety risk. “That hole is full of water. Children play outside on the church grounds. They could fall in and drown.”
The party has reiterated its call for dysfunctional city entity boards to be disbanded, saying residents must elect leaders who will put communities first.
For now, the leak remains unfixed, the hole remains open, and residents are left waiting five years on.
The Randburg Sun has approached Joburg Water for comment and will provide updates once a response is received.
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