Republic Road in Windsor East turned into a river on June 14, trapping cars and intensifying safety concerns that residents have been voicing for months.
The flooding was a result of a burst pipe.
The flooding of Republic Road adds to the months of warnings about the street’s dangerous state. The left lane has been swallowed by a large hole, and sewage overflow from a nearby manhole transformed sections of the road into pools of murky water. These ongoing issues have created a dangerous environment for drivers and pedestrians alike.
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Ward 98 councillor Beverley Jacobs has been a vocal advocate for addressing these conditions. “We have asked Johannesburg Water numerous times to deal with the sewage issue. They said that they will and we are still waiting. I contact them often, trying to push this to be fixed,” Jacobs said in April.
“This area is overcrowded. You can find 20 people living in a two-bedroom flat around here. That strains the sewerage system and on top of that, the people frequently flush down tampons, pads, nappies, fetuses, you name it.”
Jacobs highlighted that the old infrastructure and overcrowding in Windsor contributed to the problem, but she emphasised that this did not excuse the lack of action. “Johannesburg Water has pointed out that the infrastructure is old and that the place is overcrowded and I agree with them on that but still, this is not acceptable. It needs to be attended to. The sewage on the road flows into the stormwater drain that leads to the nearby golf course and now the golf course is polluted as well.”
She added the situation was a significant health risk. “Sewage has been flowing in Windsor West, into people’s yards since last December and now rats have become a problem because of it. It is such a huge health risk and people should not be living like this.”
Friday’s flooding incident has only intensified these concerns. Residents and commuters are now facing increased dangers due to the combination of water damage, sewage overflow, and the existing large hole.
“The current state of Republic Road is unacceptable and it is one of the busier roads in our area,” Jacobs said. “Then frequent water pipe bursts are also causing damage to the road. The large hole and sewage overflow are not only causing damage to vehicles but also creating health hazards for residents.”
Questions regarding the state of Republic Road were sent to Johannesburg Water but no response had been received by the time of going to press.
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