Despite numerous repairs leaks continue on Geelhout Street in Sharonlea
Residents of Geelhout Street in Sharonlea are frustrated by repeated water pipe bursts, saying Johannesburg Water’s ongoing repairs have failed to bring any lasting relief.
Residents of Geelhout Street, in Sharonlea, say they are at their wits’ end as water pipes continue to burst repeatedly, despite numerous repair efforts by Johannesburg Water (JW).
For weeks, the community has been struggling with constant leaks, flooding, and water outages that disrupt their daily lives. Several residents say that while repair teams do respond to complaints, the fixes never last long before another section of the pipe bursts. “They fix it, drive away,” said one resident. “Two hours later, another one bursts. It’s just going on and on. We’re tired and heartbroken because nothing seems to change.”
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Residents describe the situation as both exhausting and disheartening, saying they feel ignored by authorities. “The neglect and disregard for people living here breaks my heart every day,” another resident said. “We’ve tried everything, but no one seems to take this seriously.”
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Ward councillor Ralf Bittkau confirmed that Geelhout Street has been experiencing ongoing water pipe bursts for several weeks. He said that while JW recently replaced pipes in parts of Sharonlea, Geelhout Street was not included in the upgrade. “They recently did pipe replacements in Sharonlea but, in their wisdom, did not do Geelhout. Now, the street keeps experiencing repeated bursts.”
Bittkau explained that a faulty pressure control valve in the area had worsened the situation. “JW said they fixed it, but the asbestos cement pipes in Geelhout are old and brittle, and they keep bursting under the pressure.”
Residents have expressed concern over the safety and hygiene risks caused by the repeated leaks, as stagnant water often pools along the road and sidewalks. Some say they have started reporting new leaks directly to JW, and the city’s Joburg Connect system, but with little success.
Bittkau said he has escalated the matter to JW, urging the utility to prioritise Geelhout Street for a full pipe replacement, rather than repeated short-term repairs.
JW was contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication.
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