A health jeopardising sewage leak in Bryanston was finally resolved late Friday afternoon, but residents say the experience has highlighted serious gaps in communication and follow-up by Johannesburg Water (JW).

Read more: Sewage leaks threaten Sandspruit River’s vital ecosystem

Local ward councillor Lynda Shackelford confirmed that she became involved in reporting and escalating the issue after complaints from residents.

For Bryanston resident Justin Kretzmar, the ordeal began while he was away with his family.

He explained that the first sewage leak appeared on August 12, when his mother-in-law, who was at home at the time, reported it.

JW responded quickly and carried out repairs, however, Kretzmar says the problem was not properly resolved. “The next day it came back, full-blown. For 48 hours, sewage was pouring out, as you can see in the photos.”

When Kretzmar returned from holiday on Friday, August 15, around 15:00, he was horrified by what he found. “I couldn’t believe the amount of human waste in my driveway. It wasn’t pleasant at all. The water was also flowing into the Jukskei Spruit.”

Kretzmar described the back-and-forth with JW as frustrating, saying that, while the initial response was quick, the lack of proper repair and clear communication made the situation worse.

By late Friday afternoon, the leak was finally fixed, but residents are now questioning whether more proactive and lasting solutions will be put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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