Burst water pipes leave residents fed-up

Residents of a complex in Constantia Kloof have been grappling with a dire situation since June 24.

What should be basic amenities have become a serious issue in communities as residents struggle with no water or electricity. The Roodepoort Northsider visited the complex to speak to one of the trustees.

According to a resident and chairperson of the complex, Rory Yoko, the issue began at the beginning of the year when their complex encountered a series of pipe bursts and sewage leakages.

“Despite initial efforts to repair the burst pipe, which caused so much water loss in our complex, the aftermath was neglected after logging in many calls to Joburg Water (JW).

“Sewage continues to seep into the surroundings, exacerbating the health risks for residents and further compromising the already fragile infrastructure,” Yoko says.

With faucets running dry, residents are left without the means to perform daily tasks and must resort to the extra costs of buying solar panels. Recently, they contributed to having a JoJo tank placed within the complex to have water for these daily tasks.

Potholes, which have developed over time from poor maintenance, are now filled with stagnant water, posing a significant danger to residents as streetlights no longer work. Despite numerous requests and complaints from residents, promises of swift action and resolutions have gone unfulfilled, leaving them frustrated.

” It doesn’t seem fair for trustees who pay their taxes and rates and do not receive proper service delivery. We have complained many times, and it has not escalated as much as it should.

“There are pensioners who stay here and cannot deal with the extra baggage of expenses and carrying buckets of water. All we are just asking for is assistance to fix the issue,” Yoko adds.

Considering these challenges, residents of the complex are hoping for immediate intervention from City Power (CP), JW, and the Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA).

They seek not only the restoration of essential services but also a comprehensive plan to prevent issues from recurring. As the residents continue to endure hardships beyond their control, their plight serves as a stark reminder of the systemic issues and poor consistency of service delivery that affect communities.

The Northsider contacted JW, CP, and JRA for comment, and, as soon as the comment is received, an update will be published.