Finally, the Johannesburg Water (JW) contractor has attended to the troubling pipe on Bosbok Road in Randpark Ridge. This follows a pipe burst running unchecked and pouring out water for 21 days.

Read more: Unfinished pipe burst repairs continue to leak

The pipe was located under the road but was exposed after the road was flooded early in the year, during heavy rains. It was left exposed, making it easy for it to be damaged, this resulted in the pipe suffering multiple bursts, leaving nearby residents with days of no water.

On August 1, JW began the work of replacing the ageing 150mm asbestos, cement pipe with a more durable 200mm steel pipe.

Ward 134 councillor Devon Steenkamp said that while this marks welcome progress, he remains concerned that if Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) does not carry out regular storm water maintenance, especially before and during the rainy season, “the force of water runoff could, once again, threaten the stability of this infrastructure, despite the improved materials used. Additionally, debris and broken pipe fragments have been left behind at the site. I will be engaging JW to ensure that proper cleanup is completed.”

He added that this remains a textbook example of poor planning and delayed response, and he will continue holding the city accountable to prevent a repeat of this costly failure.

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