Untreated wastewater continues to flood Bromhof streets, damaging local infrastructure and sparking fresh demands for permanent repairs from a Ward 101 candidate.

Olwethu Mhaga, who works in the office of the MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture and Rural Development, was contacted by residents after sewage mixed with freshwater and began pooling in the streets, damaging roads and drainage systems. Mhaga recorded a video of the damage and raised the matter directly with Johannesburg Water online.

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“Fixing this horrible sewage leak is a matter of absolute urgency,” Mhaga said. “The residents are suffering from the health, environmental costs and just plain horrible look of it.”

Mhaga said residents told her this is not a new problem. In the past, whenever Johannesburg Water repaired a leak in the area, another would often break out nearby soon after. She said this pattern shows a long-term repair effort is needed rather than a quick fix.

Johannesburg Water acknowledged the query. In a response from Phakamani Ndlovu, the utility said: “Your query is well noted. Johannesburg Water will provide a response within our standard turnaround time of 24 to 48 hours, depending on the complexity of the matter and input required from the relevant technical department.” A fuller response on the cause of the leak and any repair plans was still pending at the time of publication.

Bromhof resident Tessa Hanekom said the sewage leaks in her area happen weekly or monthly and have done so for a number of years. “I am forced to turn around and drive the long way round to get to work,” she said. “The roads are collapsing as well.”

Also read: Years long sewage nightmare traps Randpark residents

Hanekom said she logged two calls about the problem with Johannesburg Water last year but did not keep the reference numbers. She said residents living in the affected streets regularly post about the leaks in local WhatsApp groups, showing how often the problem recurs.

Ward 101 councillor Ralf Bittkau said he has been engaging with Johannesburg Water on the issue for a long time and criticised the utility’s handling of pipe damage near rivers and ongoing blockages. Bittkau said he raised the matter in council repeatedly, without success, and expressed concern that sewage spills were ending up in nearby rivers, raising the risk of waterborne illness.

The Randburg Sun will follow up with Johannesburg Water for further comment.

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