The leak dubbed ‘Jan Smuts and Rothesay Avenues pool’ continues to worsen and overflow, two weeks later, while Johannesburg Water delays in appointing the services of an external service provider to support project execution.

A reporter visited the overflowing excavation on February 24 with Ward 90 councillor Renate van Onselen.

Read more: Water cut leaves elderly residents without supply for five days

This follows JW’s attempts last December to excavate multiple sections of the road in search of a longstanding leak, while also engaging City Power to explore isolating underground cables so that repairs could proceed.

@caxtonjoburgnorth The ‘Jan Smuts pool’ in Craighall. Video: Asanda Matlhare #Craighallpark #Rosebank #JW ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

JW’s latest response to the litres of water being lost was: “Due to the extent and scope of the work required, Johannesburg Water will be utilising the services of an external service provider to support project execution. The appointment of an external service provider is intended to ensure that the project is completed efficiently, in accordance with applicable regulatory frameworks, procurement processes, and quality standards,” said the spokesperson, Nombuso Shabalala.

Also read: Johannesburg Water leaves resident in muddy situation

A reporter and Van Onselen visited the overflowing excavation on March 10, and the councillor urged JW to pull up its socks.

“It’s been two weeks since I visited the Jan Smuts ‘pool’ and Johannesburg Water has done absolutely nothing. The water utility claims it is not an unprioritised matter but I beg to differ. They said a welder has been procured as a contractor but why doesn’t the city have their own welder they could have brought more than a month ago to prevent this mess?”
The publication has reached out to Johannesburg Water and will update the article.

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