The gaping hole on Oxford Road, which sparked public outrage earlier this month, has finally received an official response, but only on September 26, more than two weeks after the issue was first raised.

The trench, left open at the corner of Oxford Road and 11th Avenue in Rosebank, became a symbol of Johannesburg’s faltering infrastructure. It was flagged during a September 10 oversight visit, led by RISE Mzansi, whose leaders accused the city of negligence and political neglect.

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Johannesburg Water has now explained why the site was left exposed. “The excavation was intentionally left open for a period to allow the trench to dry, and to observe whether the leak had been completely resolved,” said Jaffrey Mutwa, operations – Zandfontein depot.

Mutwa confirmed that the trench was backfilled on September 22 and handed over to Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) for resurfacing.

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He stressed that Johannesburg Water does not intentionally leave excavations open, but admitted that some complex repairs take longer, requiring specialised contractors or materials. “Our teams are committed to accelerating repairs and reinstatements, even working after hours and on weekends.”

For now, residents are still waiting for JRA to reinstate the tar and restore one of Rosebank’s busiest roads to normal – a reminder of how unfinished projects in Johannesburg ripple into daily frustrations for commuters.

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