Residents of Pretoria North have welcomed the long-awaited repair of a damaged section of road at the entrance to the suburb, but concerns remain that the underlying infrastructure problem may not yet be fully resolved.

The road surface, which has been severely damaged for months due to a sewer overflow and deteriorating road surface conditions, has now been repaired and the large hole has been closed.

Ward 2 councillor Quentin Meyer said he is pleased that the immediate problem affecting motorists has finally been addressed.

“Yes, I am very happy that the road surface has finally been repaired and that the large hole has been closed. Residents can now use the road again, which is very important for the area,” said Meyer.

The damaged section of road had become a major concern for residents and motorists, as pooling water, potholes and deteriorating asphalt made the entrance into Pretoria North increasingly dangerous to navigate.

While the repair has restored safe access to the area, Meyer warned that the situation may point to a deeper infrastructure issue that still needs investigation.

“However, my concern is that there may still be a bigger underlying problem,” he said.

Meyer explained that during a recent site visit, he observed signs that could indicate a possible underground water or sewer infrastructure problem.

“When I visited the site, I noticed visible wetness along the area from the top down under the bridge. There are several spots where the ground remains wet,” he said.

At this stage, Meyer said it is not yet clear whether the water is coming from a sewer pipe or another source.

“At this stage, I cannot confirm whether the water is coming from a sewer line or from another water source, but my concern is that it could indicate a significant underground sewer or water infrastructure problem,” he said.

The councillor confirmed that he has already raised the matter with the relevant municipal department and believes further investigation is necessary to ensure the root cause is properly addressed.

“So while the immediate issue has been repaired and the road is currently usable, I believe further investigation is necessary to ensure the root cause is properly addressed,” said Meyer.

Residents who regularly use the road have welcomed the repairs but share the councillor’s concerns about whether the problem has been permanently solved.

Kabelo Mnguni, who frequently travels through the area, said the repaired road has made a noticeable difference for motorists.

“The frustrating part is that the road was getting damaged in the middle and this was hard for some of us to navigate through.

“I was worried of [hitting] a pothole, especially at night because the road is also a little steep and that made it hard for me to see,” said Mnguni.

Mnguni added that many residents remain cautious after dealing with the problem for so long.

“We have seen repairs happen before and then the problem comes back. I think people just want to be sure that the real cause of the problem is properly fixed this time.”

Another resident, Kamiso Mathibela, said the condition of the road had become a daily frustration for drivers entering Pretoria North.

“It was really bad, especially during busy traffic times. The hole and the water made it dangerous, and many people were worried about damage to their vehicles,” he said.

Mathibela said he hopes the municipality will now investigate the possible underground problem highlighted by the councillor.

“It’s good that the road is fixed, but if there is still water underneath, then the municipality needs to sort that out before the whole problem starts again.”

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo has previously insisted the recurring problems are not the result of municipal neglect, but rather ongoing misuse of the sewer system by residents.

The metro further clarified that the collapsed pipe under Rachel de Beer Street was effectively repaired through an in-house relining process, conducted by municipal teams.

This approach, according to Mashigo, saved the metro from paying external contractors while addressing a complex and hazardous engineering problem.

Residents have continued to report water flowing from the side walls of the retaining wall near the repaired section.

The metro explained that this is stormwater, not sewage, and that seepage from the retaining wall has contributed to a new pothole forming in an already weakened section of the road.

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