No answers from Johannesburg Water (JW) regarding a trench filled with water and dirt at the corner of Barkston Drive and Mackay Avenue in Blairgowrie.

The hole was dug up and left by JW, after fixing the pipe in July. It is not only an eye sore; it also raises safety concerns for motorist as it is located on a busy road.

Read more: Dangerous open manhole finally fixed in Fontainebleau

Ward 99 councillor Hendrik Bodenstein has been escalating the matter to the entity, and is frustrated about the trench. He explained that it started as a small leak before it was dug up and forgotten by the entity.
The area is secured by yellow, plastic barriers, but remains a massive safety risk, especially with the rains. It remains unclear if the leak was fixed, as the hole is always filled with water. However, the ward councillor believes the leak has not been fixed, despite digging up the hole. “It’s been filling up and the leak’s still there, it hasn’t been fixed. Johannesburg Roads Agency is waiting for JW to finish their side, then they can come and do theirs, so, everybody’s giving the other one the run around and blaming each other, but at the end of the day we’re sitting with this mess.”

He said that his biggest concern is the visitors for the G20, that were treated like absolute royalty, while the residents of Johannesburg have to live with holes and leaks in the pavements. “This is clean municipal water being wasted, and the rest of us are being billed for it as the ratepayers.”

Bodenstein has been escalating this issue with councillor Lucinda Harman, Harold Fleishman, of the Blairgowrie Community Association, and the residents, but there has been no action or communication from JW. “We’re just getting ignored and it is unacceptable. It’s a crime against our residents and our rate payers.”

Also read: Residents demand action on Bram Fischer danger hole

Residents Gwyneth Cox, who lives nearby the hole, described the situation as dangerous and disgusting. “We have been battling since July for the water company and the road company to come and fix this mess. It’s dangerous to people walking along here, and for motorists.”

She added that they are living in fear as they have witnessed accidents before on the busy road. “I first reported in July, and they came, dug a hole, and left. We have been asking when they can come back, but nothing. The road collapsed, three or four years ago, due to water that was underneath. They dug and left it, and a car went into the ditch. We know it is dangerous, we had three or four accidents before.”

JW was sent questions on November 19, but had not replied by the time of print. Their response will be published once made available.

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