Two month Klerksoord water leak turns potholes into ‘swimming pools’
The already damaged road in Klerksoord industrial has worsened after a huge water leak has caused potholes to as big as a swimming pool.
Residents and business owners in Klerksoord Industrial in Akasia are furious after the metro failed to fix a two-month water leak that has caused big potholes they refer to as “swimming pools”.
The area was under the spotlight in 2023, after it had turned into a sewage swamp following several sewer blockages, leakages and spillages.
This time round, residents and business owners have raised their concerns over the continuous water leakages and big pothole in the middle of Akwamaryn and Smarag streets.
The Tshwane metro has however said it was aware of the leak.
Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said there have been delays in repairing the leak due a problem in locating the exact leakage point since the water is coming out of an underground tunnel.
“It took the city a couple of weeks after the complaint was lodged to identify the exact location of the leakage,” Mashigo said.
He said the metro also had other challenges concerning the availability of the required material and fittings necessary to effect the repairs due to the extent of the damage found on site.
“This is because it was found that the steel pipe of the length of about 100 metres of 400 mm diameter was damaged due to vandalism of the steel brackets that anchored the steel onto the floor.”
Mashigo told Rekord the required materials and fittings were to be procured through a service provider, but, due to the December holidays, most firms were closed.
“Therefore, the city could not source all the necessary materials and fittings in time. However it pushed to repair the leak before Christmas and made significant progress.”
He said the bulk of the damaged pipeline was replaced between December 24 and 25, so 90% of the work required was done.
“This was to ensure that the community and firms that the pipeline supplies had water supply going into the festive season while the city waited for the delivery of the outstanding fittings.”
Mashigo said as soon as the outstanding fittings are delivered, they will be installed and this should effectively stop the leakage.
Local Rentia De Haas said the metro failed to fix the water leak after numerous complaints.
“The water has been leaking since November 14, and this is only one of many leaks in the Klerksoord area.”
De Haas said the leak has worsened the already-decaying road and caused extreme damage to commercial vehicles.
“All business owners and residents are despondent about this situation, as millions of litres of water are going to waste while some areas experience little to no water.”
De Haas said the damage caused to vehicles was astronomical in an already-struggling economic environment.
“The DA and Tshwane is only crippling these businesses further by their reluctant, no care attitude,” she said.
She said Klerksoord could have been a booming industrial site in northern Pretoria if it were not for the DA and Tshwane’s lack of cooperation and interest.
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