Poor service delivery seals frustration in Somerset Park

POOR service delivery in Tamarind Close in Somerset Park has left home owners at their wits end.

For months now the Northglen News has been reporting on the frustrations that residents have been experiencing with an almost constantly bursting pipe.

In November last year, a resident who wished to remain anonymous, reported that the pipe “is never fixed properly”, and has, without fail, burst every two to three months for the last five years. Tired of having to constantly report the leaks he called for the pipe to be replaced.

At the time of his original complaint to the Northglen News, a recent leak had been repaired, but a massive and dangerous gaping hole had been left unattended by municipal workers for more than four weeks after the repair had been completed.

The issues pertaining to the hole stretched further than aesthetics. According to the resident no barriers or warnings had been placed around the hole, and he feared that it posed a danger to his family and other residents in the area.

Additionally water had collected in the hole, creating a breeding ground for mosquitos. After the article was published the hole was covered.

A month later (approximately two months after the previous leak) the pipe had once again ruptured, which was left unattended for several weeks.The water had soaked the surrounding soil and had begun seeping through the tar in the road.

The resident feared that his property wall would collapse. The issue was raised with Umhlanga ward councillor, Heinz de Boer, who vowed to escalate the resident’s concerns the head of the department of water and sanitation.

On 12 January the resident thought that his concerns were over when municipal officials replaced the pipe, but now, more than a month after the renovations, the work has been left uncompleted.

The trench that was dug to replace the faulty pipe has merely been covered with sand and left untarred. The recent rains and traffic have slowly begun to erode the sand, turning it into a ditch.

“I have reached a point where I have lost all hope, and have reached the conclusion that I must just accept the poor service delivery. I don’t enjoy complaining, least of all to the media, but it is the only way I seem to be getting any response,” said the irate resident.

No comment was received from the municipality at the time of going to press.