While the Tshwane Metro has cleared more than half of Region 4’s backlog of trenches awaiting reinstatement since February, some Centurion residents are still waiting for trenches dug during water leak repairs to be properly backfilled and roads restored as new pipe failures continue to emerge.

According to the city, more than 80 of the about 130 outstanding trench reinstatement cases recorded in Centurion in February have been completed, reducing the backlog by over half.

However, the municipality stated that ongoing water leak repairs are creating new excavation sites, making it difficult to completely eliminate the backlog.

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo told Rekord that the city had reached the backlog reduction target it set in February.

He explained that the current outstanding cases are largely new excavations caused by ongoing water-leak repairs, rather than older, unresolved ones.

“By mid-June 2026, the City of Tshwane had approximately 50 to 60 outstanding excavation site reinstatement cases in Region 4,” he said.

Mashigo acknowledged that while significant progress has been made in addressing the February backlog, continuous water leak repairs have offset these gains.

“The continued high number of water leaks requiring new excavations; weather-related disruptions such as rainfall; the need to prioritise emergency repairs over reinstatement activities; and occasional shortages of construction materials, such as compaction material and asphalt required for road resurfacing, have all contributed to preventing the backlog from being completely eliminated,” he explained.

Centurion residents in wards 61, 69, and 70 remain among the most affected by these challenges.

According to Mashigo, these wards experience frequent pipe failures due to ageing water infrastructure and older water networks serving densely populated residential areas. This often requires repair teams to excavate the same locations multiple times to address recurring leaks.

“Together, these wards account for a high number of the outstanding excavation site reinstatement cases in Region 4, which explains the ongoing concerns raised by residents.”

The metro believes that the deployment of dedicated backfilling teams earlier this year has been one of the main reasons for the backlog reduction.

Mashigo said teams have cleared much of the pre-February backlog in Wierda Park and nearby areas.
After completing work there, the teams shifted their focus to scattered excavation sites in Eldoraigne, Laudium, and Erasmia, further reducing the backlog across Region 4.

Despite these efforts, Tshwane officials admit that budget constraints and the limited availability of reinstatement teams remain major obstacles.

In April, additional funding was allocated to hire external contractors until June, while the region also revised its prioritisation strategy. This strategy focused on addressing older outstanding sites first, as well as locations posing greater safety risks.

While these measures have helped improve turnaround times, Mashigo acknowledged that current funding levels are still insufficient to eliminate the backlog.

“The city anticipates further refinements as additional resources become available in future financial years,” he said.

Some residents have raised concerns about the quality of reinstatement work, claiming that certain trenches have not been properly backfilled or restored after repairs.

Mashigo responded by assuring residents that the city follows strict quality control measures designed to minimise the risk of future sinkholes and ground subsidence.

He added that the city is working to increase the frequency of inspections, although staffing constraints currently limit inspection capacity.

For residents still waiting for trenches to be reinstated, the city noted that completion times depend on the complexity of each case.

“Standard backfilling is generally completed within two to four weeks after a water leak has been repaired. Older backlog cases can take between 4 and 12 weeks or longer. Sites experiencing recurring leaks may require additional time, as repeated excavations increase the risk of rework before permanent reinstatement can take place,” confirmed Mashigo.

For Rooihuiskraal resident Donald Henning, the latest update provides some reassurance, but it does little to ease the frustration many residents continue to experience.

Henning remarked that open excavation sites have become yet another recurring problem for Centurion residents, who already contend with sinkholes, deteriorating infrastructure, and frequent water-related issues.

“It feels like it’s one thing after another. If it’s not sinkholes, it’s trenches left behind after repairs. People just want to feel safe driving in their neighbourhoods and walking past these sites. It’s frustrating because these problems have become a constant part of living in Centurion,” he said.

While Henning acknowledged city’s progress, he expressed hope that the remaining excavation sites would be permanently reinstated as quickly as possible.

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