Johannesburg Water fixes persistent Rivonia pipe leak
After three years, three bursts and mounting frustration, residents at La Piazza Complex in Rivonia can finally breathe a sigh of relief as Johannesburg Water confirms the troublesome leak has been repaired.
Johannesburg Water (JW) has repaired a long-running leak outside La Piazza Complex in Rivonia, confirming that a second leak emerged after initial work but has since been resolved.
This follows growing frustration from residents who claimed a burst pipe has plagued the complex for about three years, with repeated failures leaving excavated ground, damaged gardens, and concerns about water seeping through the driveway.
Read more: Johannesburg Water confirms aging pipelines cause of water disruptions in Bryanston
Johannesburg Water spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala said the utility’s team initially completed repairs on July 22, but another leak occurred later.
“The new leak was repaired on August 11, and the backfilling was completed once the site had dried up,” Shabalala said. “The team is certain that another burst or leak does not recur.”
Resident Leigh Griffiths previously described the problem as a recurring nightmare.
According to Griffiths, the latest burst occurred in December 2025, after which the area remained open while a slow leak continued at the pipe joint.
She raised concerns that the ongoing water seepage had affected the complex’s paving and gardens, and could potentially compromise the foundation of the adjacent boundary wall.
Also read: Bryanston residents fed up with water woes
Another resident, Zonia Bill, said residents had repeatedly escalated the problem to Johannesburg Water and were getting desperate because the issue was affecting the building and the driveway.
Shabalala said a utility investigation found that the original problem was caused by a burst 100mm asbestos-cement pipe.
She added that asbestos-cement pipes are particularly susceptible to bursts during seasonal temperature changes.
“However, pipe failures can result from a combination of factors, including fluctuations in operating and residual water pressure caused by varying demand and usage throughout the day,” Shabalala said.
“These conditions place additional stress on ageing infrastructure, increasing the likelihood of pipe failures.”
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