Randburg resident slams growing abandoned water repairs
From collapsing pavements to overflowing streets, a Randburg resident documents a trail of unfinished work he believes shows Johannesburg Water is failing the city.
Residents of Fontainebleau, Randpark Ridge, and the surrounding Randburg suburbs are growing increasingly frustrated with Johannesburg Water’s (JW) slow pace of repairs, unfinished work sites, and persistent leaks, which have been left unattended for months — and in some cases, years.
Long-time resident André Kruse, who has been documenting the escalating problems across multiple streets, says the situation has reached an unacceptable level. “There are holes everywhere, water running down pavements, and jobs that JW simply abandons halfway. Nothing is ever completed properly.”
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Kruser points to Ash Avenue in Robin Acres, where a large excavation was left open despite the water appearing to have stopped leaking. “The hole is still there, and it looks like the pipe still needs work and a screw top lid. Repairs are not complete.”
A second leak, further up the road, continues to run, and another at the corner of Cedar Road was left as a big hole, even though the leak seems fixed.
Across the broader area, similar patterns repeat. At Aimee Streets and Maria Roads, water still pours from pavements. A previously repaired site at Maria and Republic roads remains unresolved, with Kruse noting that JW wrecked the fibre infrastructure with the machine used to dig the hole and did not complete the work.
The concerns intensify when public safety is at risk. On Maria Road, there was a leaning electricity pole next to a puddle of water: “Given the extreme wet conditions, this City Power pole will most probably fall over. JW dug a hole there, but it has not been repaired.”
The road damage is now widespread. On Annie Road, he reported a worsening leak and crumbling tar. The water running down the road has caused severe cracking.
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“Clearly, the substructure is also damaged due to the negligence of the entity. From Republic Road, 5th Avenue, Fairway Drive, Martha Road, and multiple sites in Randpark Ridge, the story is the same: Excavations left open, kerbs removed but never replaced, and water continuously wasted.”
Some complaints date back to 2020, with others from November 2024. His recent drive through Johannesburg only deepened his concern. “The further I went, the more leaks I saw — Linden, City Deep, Berea, Hillbrow… It’s everywhere.”
For Kruse, the message is simple. “Complete the jobs. Finish what you start. This cannot continue.”
JW was sent questions regarding some of the issues, but has not responded. Their comments will be published as soon as we receive them.
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