Robindale’s water wastage causes concern
Robindale resident Elsa Mack said she first noticed a problem in 2000, when she saw a hole in the pavement.
Residents of Robindale have been struggling with a persistent water issue for over a decade, as a broken pipe and storm-water drain continue to gush water. Despite several pleas to Johannesburg Water, the problem remains unresolved and threatens property and safety.
Elsa Mack, a resident, reflected on 2000 when she first noticed a small hole in the pavement along Abbott Road. “We ignored this hole for years until the hole became bigger and bigger.” Despite interventions from the entity in 2021, which involved covering the hole with a concrete slab, the water continues to flow, causing erosion and endangering nearby properties.
Mack highlighted the consequences of water wastage, “Johannesburg Water needs to get outside engineers in because the city is losing billions of litres of water daily. They know about it, but don’t seem to care.”
Ingrid Lawrence, another resident, emphasised the severity of the situation. “All they did to fix it was cut down that lovely cycad plant and put a cement block on top of the hole to hide it.”
Lawrence expressed concern over the potential accidents that could happen if the hole is not closed soon. She warned, “It needs to be fixed before a child falls in, drowns and disappears.”
Councillor Nicole Van Dyk, who has been actively advocating for a resolution, voiced her disappointment with the entity’s response. “I have reported this issue several times and my emails are just being ignored.” Despite organising meetings between the community and Johannesburg Water, promises of action have yielded no results. She added, “But I am going to continue pushing for them [Johannesburg Water] to fix it. This is not the only hole. There is a sinkhole nearby as well.”
Questions were sent to Johannesburg Water for comment. However, no response had been forthcoming by the time of going to print.
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