Relief in Soshanguve after eight days without water

After enduring more than a week without running water, residents of Soshanguve are expressing relief and joy as Tshwane confirmed the completion of major repair work on a damaged pipeline in the area.

The water supply has begun to return, although the metro warned that full pressure restoration across all affected areas will take several more hours as the empty network stabilises.

The interruption, which lasted eight days, left households struggling to meet their daily needs, with many relying on municipal water tankers.

The outage was caused by a pipe failure that required technically complex repairs.

It has affected areas in Soshanguve South Ext 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 19 and in Soshanguve Blocks VV, XX, A and B, which are all serviced by the Kruisfontein Reservoir.

According to metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, the work involved connecting an old asbestos pipe to a modern steel pipeline, a task made more challenging by material incompatibilities.

Mashigo said that despite these challenges, Tshwane’s regional water teams worked around the clock to execute a lasting solution.

“We are pleased to confirm that the final connection was completed earlier today.

“This was a technically demanding process, and we thank our residents for their continued patience,” he said.

Mashigo said initial delays in the repair process were caused by issues with specially manufactured couplings delivered around midnight.

Due to a mismatch in pipe materials, the components could not be installed as intended.

The situation called for immediate intervention, with the manufacturer quickly stepping in to modify the parts.

He said a specialist service provider was also contracted to fabricate custom fittings, which were collected from Centurion and used to complete the job.

Residents across Soshanguve greeted the news with joy, with many expressing their frustrations about the prolonged disruption.

“Eight days without water were unbearable.

“We had to carry buckets from tankers every day. Bathing, washing, and cooking were difficult. Now that water is coming back, we are beyond happy,” said Thabo Radebe of Ext 19.

Mother of two, Dineo Mashilo, said the water coming feels like a blessing.

“My children were sick and without water, which made things worse. I was worried that this issue would be prolonged with schools closing in a few days.”

While water is slowly returning to taps, the metro has assured residents that water tankers will remain in place until the entire system is fully pressurised and back to normal.

Tshwane has also pledged to continue monitoring the situation closely to ensure there are no further interruptions.

“We are committed to restoring a stable and safe water supply for all residents.

“Our teams worked tirelessly under pressure to resolve this issue, and we appreciate the community’s co-operation throughout this difficult period.”

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