Calls grow to remove ageing Olivedale water pipe
After two major bursts in seven years, Olivedale residents are calling for a municipal water pipe under their homes to be rerouted to prevent future damage.
The repair site at Lukas Place in Olivedale, where a 350mm municipal water pipe burst earlier this month, remains open as checks continue for possible leaks.
Resident Helena Pillay says the city has indicated it will take at least two to three days to confirm whether the newly installed section is secure. “But there’s still no talk about decommissioning the pipe. This should be the priority.”
Read more: Lukas Place residents demand removal of leaking pipe
Pillay is also concerned about the risk of future bursts, where the old asbestos pipe connects to the new section. “If they don’t decommission the pipe, the joint could break in the future.”
The pipe, which runs directly under units at Lukas Place, has burst twice in seven years, first in December 2018 and again on August 1, 2025. Residents say they were unaware of its existence when buying their homes, and have since called for it to be rerouted to open veld nearby.
For now, the hole stays open, Johannesburg Water remains silent on decommissioning, and Lukas Place residents wait for assurances that their homes will be safe from another disruption.
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