Sewer pipe replacement project will be completed

Johannesburg Water (JW) spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala confirmed to the Gazette, on July 23, that although there were payment delays experienced on the sewer pipe replacement project in Saxonwold and Parkwood, the contractor resumed operations in July and both labour and small, micro, and medium sized enterprises (SMME) were paid.

This is in response to the Saxonwold and Parkwood Residents Association (Sapra)’s demand for action for the alleged delays in the pipe replacement project.

In a media release, Sapra said: “Due to the non-payment of workers by CoJ since April, they have downed tools and residents have been left with open excavations in and outside their properties in Parkwood and Parktown North.

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@caxtonjoburgnorth The Parkwood Sewer Pipe Replacement Phase 3 Project is underway in Sussex Road. #parkwood #servicedelivery #fyp ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

“This project has had a litany of problems, and, lately, the non-payment by CoJ finance to JW to pay the contractor and workers, exacerbates the half-done work. When workers on the project have not been paid, and consequently down tools and stop work, it is totally unacceptable,” noted Bill Haslam, chairperson of Sapra.

Shabalala highlighted that the site was always made safe, to comply with occupational health, safety, & environmental (OHSE) requirements. “In addition, site inspections are done regularly to ensure the safety of the community and environment. The planned completion on the project will be end of October 2025. JW endeavours to ensure that the project is completed to achieve its objectives.”

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Haslam noted that the work stoppages, due to the city’s alleged withholding of wage payments, were frequent. “The suburb has many excavations that have been dug up and left unfilled, constituting a serious accident hazard. This is a situation that suggests a fundamental lack of financial planning, and is intolerable.”

The chairperson concluded that the Saxonwold and Parkwood community called on the city to correct the situation immediately, and to ensure that proper planning takes place so that work on the project is not interrupted in the future, and can be completed as soon as possible.

The sewer pipe replacement project is now seven months past its mandate.

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