Johannesburg Water confirms aging pipelines cause of water disruptions in Bryanston
JW says pipelines along Ballyclare Drive and Hobart Road are constructed from asbestos cement material, which has exceeded its design lifespan and is now structurally compromised.
Johannesburg Water has confirmed that recurring pipe bursts in Bryanston are caused by ageing infrastructure, with formal submission for the replacement of the affected pipelines already at the planning department.
This follows frustration raised by Ward 103 councillor Lynda Shackleford during her recent site visit on Ballyclare Drive and nearby Hobart Road in Bryanston. Shackleford said residents are grappling with water disruptions, including repeated pipe bursts causing damage to nearby properties and financial loss to businesses. Shackleford added that the issue has been ongoing since she first took office in 2021. “On the night of the elections, painting a picture, I had my first massive pipe burst on this road. I hadn’t even signed in as a councillor yet.
“Now, we’re in 2026. If you see [Ballyclare Drive], and just further up the road, we’ve had two bursts within a space of 10 days. This road and Hobart Road, which is just further down, we have pipe bursts regularly.
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“It has damaged walls, it has nearly killed a family pet, and it has flooded complexes. People don’t want to live in complexes where they don’t have water for three to four days. People are losing money, as businesses and shopping centres are affected.”
Shackleford added that, despite repeated submissions through integrated development plan (IDP) and engagement with Johannesburg Water (JW), there has been no progress towards ageing infrastructure. “I have submitted it in all my IDPs through my term, begging Johannesburg Water to hear my plea to get this pipe replaced. I know the senior management at the Zandfontein depot. I have submitted it, but nothing.
“I’ve written a question to council and they don’t seem to be taking me seriously. The next step is getting the residents to do a petition, so maybe that will make them be heard about the ongoing water issues from Hobart to Ballyclare streets. This is a monthly issue. Johannesburg Water needs to step up.”
JW spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala said they conducted multiple assessments of the pipelines along Ballyclare Drive and Hobart Road, which have consistently confirmed that the recurring failures are due to ageing infrastructure. “The pipelines are constructed from asbestos cement material that has exceeded its design lifespan and is now structurally compromised. Under these conditions, pipe bursts are an inherent and unavoidable consequence of operating infrastructure that has reached the end of its service life. This is a long-standing and well-documented condition.”
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Shabalala added that a formal submission for the replacement of the affected pipelines has already been made to the planning department, and forms part of the capital infrastructure pipeline. “Johannesburg Water has completed the required administrative and technical processes to advance the project beyond reactive repairs. It must be noted that infrastructure replacement is governed by budget availability, city-wide prioritisation, and approval processes.
“Given the scale of ageing infrastructure across Johannesburg, implementation is phased and cannot occur simultaneously across all affected areas. The Ballyclare and Hobart streets infrastructure has been duly recorded and prioritised within this broader programme.”
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