A major pipe burst on Pretoria Avenue has once again drawn attention to the area’s ageing water infrastructure, turning part of the road into what residents have jokingly called a new Jacuzzi.

Read more: Pretoria Avenue pipe burst remains a concerning issue

Clean water continues to gush from the ruptured pipe, sending thousands of litres flowing wastefully down the street. This latest incident is not an isolated case. Pretoria Avenue has become increasingly known for recurring pipe bursts, with residents estimating this to be the third or fourth occurrence in recent years.

Ward 102 councillor Bea Campbell-Cloute explained that the latest burst is most likely due to aging and pressurised water infrastructure. However, this leak could have been compounded by the incomplete work from the previous burst. “The initial pipe burst on Pretoria Avenue happened in early 2024. The repairs were undertaken but the pipe started leaking again. In August 2025, almost a year later, the pipe repairs were completed, but the rubble and the open hole remained. Upon visiting the site during the week, a second pipe repair, about 30m away, was observed. This repair is still leaking. This could mean that the system is under sustained strain, rather than this being an isolated failure.”

Adding to the frustration is the location of the new leak, right next to an old reinstatement site that has been left unattended for years. The neglected, open hole has since become overgrown with weeds, which is a sign of incomplete repairs and lack of follow-through. Campbell-Cloute noted that without proper upgrades and consistent maintenance, these incidents are likely to continue. “At this stage, timelines from Johannesburg Water remain unclear, which is unacceptable. I am pushing for this to be prioritised as it is unacceptable for these reinstatements to take two years. It is still leaking. Pipe repair also causes concerns and needs urgent prioritisation. Johannesburg Water indicated that this will be investigated and repairs done but no timeline was given.”

Also read: JRA finally patches Bend Street reinstatement

Questions were sent to Johannesburg Water on March 22. In their response, on April 1, spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala confirmed that they are aware of the leak and have been attending to it. “We are attending a burst. We will isolate the line so that we can be able to do the repair. Customers or residents will not have water during the repairs.” She added that the burst was the result of ageing infrastructure.

Campbell-Cloete said it is completely unacceptable, as the city is already facing water shortages. The continuous loss of water due to infrastructure failure and slow response times is both irresponsible and avoidable. “From a councillor’s perspective, we are constantly fighting for infrastructure maintenance, pipe replacement programmes, and improved turnaround times from Johannesburg Water. More importantly, there must be accountability measures from the entity to ensure that repairs are completed, inspected, and the area reinstated after repairs.”

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