Ward 91 councillor talks of Johannesburg’s deepening infrastructure crisis
Andrew Stewart, councillor for Ward 91, is calling for immediate reform to address worsening infrastructure issues in Johannesburg.
Johannesburg is facing a rising infrastructure crisis, with residents experiencing severe disruptions to essential services.
Andrew Stewart, the councillor for Ward 91, which covers the suburbs of Wynberg, parts of Alexandra, Bramley North, Bramley Park, Glen Atholl, Atholl, Inanda, and sections of Sandton’s CBD, is witnessing firsthand the impact of deteriorating water and electricity infrastructure on his ward.
Read more: Leak woes plague Ward 91
In an interview, Stewart expressed deep concern over the mounting challenges and the failure of service providers to address the issues effectively. “The situation is critical. These are not just problems affecting my ward; they are widespread across Johannesburg, and unfortunately, they are getting worse.”
He said the most pressing of these issues is the prolonged electricity outages, which have become more frequent and severe. “Power outages, which once lasted a day or two, are now stretching to four days or more. This is a growing concern, and it has been made worse by the lack of transparency and accountability from City Power.”
Stewart pointed to several troubling instances where City Power cited faults on private property as the reason for outages, only for those claims to later fall apart. “One recent case, in Alexandra, saw City Power initially report a cable fault on private land. However, when residents offered to help facilitate access, City Power failed to act. When we asked for the specific property owner’s details, so we could assist, the story suddenly changed.”
Also read: Ward 91 faces persistent water and power outages
@caxtonjoburgnorth Councillor Andrew Stewart gives you the latest on what’s happening in Ward 91. Ward91 CommunityUpdate LocalNews
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He added that they then claimed a water pump was needed, instead of the supposed cable fault. “This inconsistency only raises more questions about the true reasons behind these outages.”
Stewart explained that the water supply is no less problematic, with Johannesburg Water facing its own set of challenges, including long delays in fixing pipe bursts and water shortages. “The explanations we are given just don’t make sense. The length of time it takes to address these issues is unacceptable, and it’s affecting residents daily.”
Beyond the immediate concerns with service delivery, Stewart pointed to deeper systemic problems within the city’s governance. “These infrastructure failures reflect a broader issue of mismanagement and a lack of professionalism at both the regional and local levels of government.”
Stewart highlighted that an urgent reform is growing louder. “We are at a tipping point. If we don’t see real action soon, the situation will only continue to worsen.”
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Related article: Challenges Andrew faces as a councillor in Ward 91
