Recurring pipe bursts in Eldoraigne leave taps dry

Residents of Eldoraigne are once again grappling with water supply issues as another pipe burst at the intersection of Hyde and Saxby avenues.

This incident marks the third time in recent weeks that the same spot has experienced a pipe failure, exacerbating frustrations among the community already dealing with multiple outages.

Ward 69 Councillor Cindy Billson said that the pipe burst on Sunday, and she promptly alerted the metro.

“The metro informed me that they would only attend on Tuesday because of the overtime,” Billson said.

“After significant complaints from residents, I received word around 20:00 last night that water would be switched off to commence repairs, but as of now, no workers have arrived on site.”

One of the residents in the area, Priscilla Govender expressed her discontent with the recurring water outages.

“We were relieved that the supply was restored a couple of days ago, and now it’s off again,” she said.

Govender questioned the metro’s effectiveness in managing these persistent issues.

“They keep fixing the same pipes, and after a while, they burst again, and this is extremely frustrating because we are the ones who end up suffering.”

Govender added that she is now concerned about how long the community will be left without water this time.

This interruption follows a brief reprieve, as supply was restored on April 15 after several days of outages due to multiple pipe bursts in the area.

Last week, Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed that all previously reported leaks had been repaired and supply restored.

He noted that the multiple pipe bursts were attributed to the normal wear and tear of asbestos pipes.

“These pipes have long surpassed their lifespan and are prone to bursts,” said Mashigo.

Mashigo assured residents that thorough inspections of the water infrastructure would be conducted to prevent future incidents.

“Pipe replacement of old and deteriorating water infrastructure is carried out as and when there is a need.”

On April 13, the metro announced that the cause of the initial water outage was a burst pipe along Hyde Avenue.

During the outages, arrangements were made for residents to collect water at the Eldoraigne Clinic, where a water tanker was stationed to assist those in need.

“Water tankers are provided as and when the need arises, ensuring that residents have access to water during such disruptions,” Mashigo noted.

At the time, Councillor Billson highlighted challenges that residents faced during the water outage.

“There were seven pipe bursts within nine days, affecting about 400 residents,” she said.

She stated that the pipe bursts were on George Road, the corner of Janet and Alan roads, 30 Janet Road, the corner of Janet and Hyde Avenue, the corner of Kern Street and Christopher Road, and at the corner of Ruimte and Saxby Avenue.

“Residents first reported experiencing prolonged water outages for hours in the past two weeks.

“This was followed by a complete water outage on April 11, with water only being restored after the last pipe burst was fixed on April 15.”

Billson also raised concerns about metro workers leaving gaping holes after repairs, particularly on Janet Road and Hyde Avenue.

Residents shared their experiences during the outages, revealing the impact on their daily lives.

Dylan Naidoo, who lives near Saxby SPAR, noted the disruption to his hygiene standards.

He mentioned that he often had to travel to his grandmother’s home for showers, only to face the added challenge of power outages there, resulting in cold showers.

“Although we can easily buy water and drink it, unfortunately, sometimes the water isn’t enough to wash the dishes, use the bathroom, or even bathe,” he explained.

Another resident, Roiy Padayachy, described the inconvenience caused by the water outage, which hindered his ability to manage household chores.

He mentioned that he used a camper shower, which was a convenience, as there was a nearby water station.

He also reflected on similar issues he faced while living in Laudium.

“There used to be water supply issues and constant vandalism and theft of electricity meter boxes. Now, this is also happening in Eldoraigne.”

Naidoo also said that after water was restored on April 15, a power outage occurred later that night.

He explained that the residents had previously formed a neighbourhood watch group to address criminal activity in the area, but over time, it disbanded.

“During our collaboration, we became aware of numerous issues related to cable theft, which continued to cause problems with streetlights, as many would be repaired only to go dark again shortly thereafter,” he said.

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