Ongoing road damage at Pretoria North entrance fuels commuter frustration
Months of delays and repeated sewer collapses have turned a key route near Wonderboom Station into a dangerous mess. Residents say failing infrastructure and weak metro response are putting lives at risk.
The gateway into Pretoria North, by the bridge near the Wonderboom train station on Rachel de Beer Street, has become a nightmare for motorists as municipal infrastructure crumbles.
A large crater has formed due to a persistent water leakage, but authorities have described the repairs required on the site as very difficult, due to the location and depth of the sewer infrastructure in that area.
The sewer leak has been repaired, but repairs to the road remain incomplete, leaving motorists to feel the consequences, which have made commuting on the route unsafe.
Despite multiple complaints and ongoing communication with metro authorities, the situation has not improved in months, and motorists have reached breaking point.
Mokgadi Supe, Director of Region 1’s Wastewater Collection and Water Distribution, confirmed that the pipe beneath the road had collapsed multiple times, prompting the repeated interventions.
“The location and depth of the sewer infrastructure in that area make repairs extremely challenging,” said Supe.
She also noted that full restoration of the road surface would follow once the current excavation and pipe replacement are completed.
“The recurring sewer collapse at the entrance of Pretoria North from Rachel De Beer Street has been attended to on three occasions. However, every time after the repairs, a new damaged area occurred.
“The sewer blockage has been on account of a damaged pipe, mainly due to infrastructure age,” she said.
Supe said that due to access constraints, the technical team has been limited to spot repairs on the leaking or damaged section.
“In conducting the repairs, the technical team had to be conscious of damage limitation to the sewer pipe, because one section of the pipe has been boxed with concrete to protect the pipe from traffic load since the pipe runs across the main road.
“Consequently, the side of the pipe that is boxed with concrete is not accessible for adequate joint connection. This is because the pipe boxed with concrete is made up of clay material, which tends to result in the pipe cracking while exposed to pounding pressure as the team attempts to break the concrete.”
Supe mentioned that the other side of the pipe comes from underneath the retail wall on the side of the road.
“As a result, there is an access challenge which limits the team’s ability to conduct replacement of extended lengths of the aged pipe, bearing safety considerations.
“The damaged pipe has been referred to the capex project for pipe replacement.”
But for residents, these explanations offer little comfort when their cars are damaged, school routes are delayed, and the local economy suffers.
“We understand that sewer pipes aren’t easy to fix. But how can you start a job three times and never finish it properly?
“How is this fair to us, the people who live here and pay rates?” asked resident, Andile Mabena.
He said the mess on Rachel de Beer Street may be only one road, but it speaks to a broader concern, which is Tshwane’s ageing infrastructure and sluggish maintenance response times.
According to Ward 2 Councillor Quentin Meyer, the area has seen three sewer-related interventions, with teams returning to the site in an attempt to fix a collapsed sewer pipe located beneath the entrance.
Meyer said in the latest attempt, contractors had to dig beneath a side wall to access the problematic section, a clear indication of the complexity involved.
However, without proper road restoration afterwards, the situation has worsened instead of improving.
Resident Marionette Pretorius described the deteriorating road as hazardous, saying, “The deteriorating condition of the roads in Rachel de Beer Street has become increasingly hazardous due to numerous potholes and general neglect.”
She said the poor state of these roads not only poses a significant risk to motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians, but also leads to expensive vehicle damage and slow traffic flow.
Pretorius mentioned that several potholes have grown in depth over the past weeks, and despite previous reports from residents, no repairs seem to have been carried out.
“We respectfully urge the relevant departments to prioritise repairs and maintenance in this area.
“Timely intervention would help prevent accidents, reduce repair costs for residents, and improve the overall safety and efficiency of the road network.”
Pretorius is not alone, as other motorists are forced to swerve dangerously between potholes, while pools of leaking water from underground pipes continue to erode the road surface.
Pretorius said water continues to stream down the road, and the hole near the yellow cone is expanding noticeably. At this rate, both lanes will soon be completely obstructed, creating a major hazard.
She warned that emergency services may soon struggle to access parts of Pretoria North due to the dangerous conditions.
“I have submitted complaints as far back as July 16, yet no significant maintenance has been done.
“Potholes, lack of proper drainage, and general neglect are not only damaging vehicles but have also led to near-accidents and delays in emergency services reaching residents.
“It is deeply frustrating to see these issues persist, despite attempts to raise awareness and request action,” said Pretorius.
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