Ward 72 councillor Daniel Schay remains dissatisfied with the state of his ward, particularly Northfield Avenue in Glenhazel, after identifying numerous flooded excavations and outstanding reinstatements.

Schay, who met with a journalist on July 2 outside a residential area with a flooded excavation, said: “The excavation is an example of many others. Hundreds of neglected flooded excavations.”

Johannesburg Water’s spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala confirmed, on July 9: “The matter was investigated by the Johannesburg Water team, and it was confirmed that the water accumulating in the excavation is groundwater, and not the result of a water leak.

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The continuous ingress of groundwater into the excavation has affected the completion of the reinstatement works.”

Shabalala added that the entity’s team was scheduled to commence work on the reinstatement on July 9, and that the work would be carried out as conditions allowed.

A few pavements down, stands a second excavation also filled with water. The spokesperson noted that Johannesburg Water’s team confirmed that the water accumulating in the second excavation, also on Northfield Avenue, was also filled with groundwater, and not the result of a water leak.

“The prolonged presence of water in the excavation is due to continuous groundwater ingress, which has delayed the safe completion of the reinstatements. The responsible team is currently assessing the most appropriate remediation method to safely manage the groundwater and enable completion of the reinstatement.”

She added that once the assessment was finalised, the repairs would proceed as soon as it was safe and practical to do so.

Johannesburg Roads Agency on outstanding reinstatements

The publication reached out to Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) on July 2 regarding outstanding reinstatements in Ward 74 on Louis Botha Avenue and Athol Street and in Ward 72 on Northfield Avenue and Peglynn Road in Glenhazel. The entity confirmed, on July 8, that it was aware of the two outstanding reinstatements.

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JRA’s acting head of department in regional operations Mpho Maruping noted: “Johannesburg Water recently completed their pipe repair and JRA has requested an order to start working on the reinstatement. Glenhazel is work in progress.

We have completed the paving and kerbs. Only the tar work is outstanding, which is scheduled for repairs this week.”

Maruping explained what the handover process of roadwork jobs entailed between Johannesburg Water and JRA.

“Johannesburg Water is responsible for carrying out the required pipe repairs. Once these repairs have been completed, Johannesburg Water issues an order number to JRA, authorising the road reinstatement works.”

He added that JRA then undertakes the reinstatement and uses the issued order number to submit a claim to Johannesburg Water for the completed work.

Maruping concluded that the handover process should be within 48 hours of the completion of the work by Johannesburg Water, and JRA then schedules the work once the order has been received.

“However system glitches can occur from time to time, leading to delays in both the administration and operational processes.”

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