Twelve years of recurring sewage overflows have left several Bergbron streets battling daily infrastructure failures despite constant complaints to Johannesburg Water.

Gawie Smit and Debbie Minnaar expressed their frustration over the increasingly regular blockages affecting Bernard Street, Jonkershoek Road, Meg’s Place and Philips Avenue.

Smit noted the problem has escalated as new shopping centres and residential complexes have developed in the area.

He claimed that local businesses are contributing to the fat build-up in the sewerage system.

According to Smit, blockages occurred three or four times a year 10 years ago, worsening to once or twice a month three years ago as more restaurants opened.

“Now it is a daily occurrence, and Johannesburg Water’s (JW) response to this crisis is simply inadequate,” he said.

Multiple overflow points reported

The residents said overflows are occurring at various manholes along the affected roads.

“When JW attends to a blockage, the problem is often pushed further down the line rather than permanently resolved,” Smit said.

Minnaar has been reporting incidents roughly every two weeks, noting that sewage running down the street prevents residents from using the roads or accessing their driveways.

She reported the matter to the Human Rights Commission to force municipal departments to assess whether the infrastructure can cope with the growing population and commercial demands.

Minnaar stressed that proper education is needed on what can be disposed of through the system to prevent blockages.

“JW should address the root cause as another temporary fix will not be enough and major maintenance needs to be done on the pipes,” Minnaar said.

The Roodepoort Record sent a media enquiry to JW on September 8, requesting comment by Monday, September 14.

The enquiry sought clarity on the ongoing sewage overflows in Bergbron, including residents’ claims that the problem has persisted for more than 10 years.

Questions were raised about whether JW is aware of the issue, why a permanent solution has not yet been implemented, and whether fat, oil, and grease from nearby businesses, particularly restaurants, could be contributing to the recurring blockages.

JW acknowledged receipt of the enquiry and indicated that a response would be provided before the deadline. However, despite multiple follow-ups, the entity failed to respond by the deadline. Their response will be published in a separate article.