Road collapses in Ferndale
FERNDALE – Water pipes burst for three years before the ground gives in on the corner of Bond Street and Elgin Avenue.
Three years of water pipe bursts along a section of road culminated in the complete collapse of the ground – about 2m at its deepest and large enough to fit four cars. One driver found this out when they drove into the hole the evening after the collapse earlier in the day, thankfully no one was injured. The collapse happened on the corner of Bond Street and Elgin Avenue on the morning of January 9.
The area has been cordoned off for vehicles, but it has not stopped residents and pedestrians walking to the edge and inspecting the site. “For the last three years contractors were working in that spot, bad workmanship , electricity cables, water pipes and fibre were constantly ripped up by them, leaving residents for days without services. A few weeks ago this area was closed up, now we sit with this,” complained Ferndale Residents Association co-chairperson Erica de Jager.
Resident Lew Campbell said he had been complaining to Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) and Johannesburg Water for 10 years about the state of water pipes, many of which have burst in the last three years as a result of no maintenance, he said.
He added that he does not hold any hope of JRA reinstating the road any time soon. “Yesterday [January 9] we notified JRA [about the collapse] at 10:30 and they only sent someone after 13:00,” explained Ward 104 councillor Emi Koekemoer.
“They sent one man on his own, like they had no interest in assisting at all. Joburg Water came quickly though, and fixed the pipe.” Questions have been sent to the spokespeople of JRA and Johannesburg Water. This is a developing story and the Randburg Sun will publish their comments and any updates as they become available. Related Article: https://www.citizen.co.za/randburg-sun/441850/the-linden-cpf-needs-you/
