Resident frustrated about lack of progress on pipe replacement project
RIVONIA – The pipe replacement project has been on hold for two months but Joburg Water hopes to resume the project this week.
A resident in Rivonia has raised concerns about a pipe replacement project in Rivonia which has been on hold for more than two months.
The project, which was due to replace pipes along Kudu Crescent, Eland Avenue and Zebra Close, began on 2 May. However, Brian Humphries, a resident in the area, noticed that the work on the project had stopped two weeks after it had begun.
Humphries said that his main concern was that open trenches could be potentially dangerous and many people had been left with unsightly driveways and front yards.
He added that the neighbourhood had been struggling with regular burst pipes for about five to 10 years and was so happy to see that the infrastructure was being upgraded. However, his excitement was replaced with frustration and he hopes the project will be completed soon.
Isaac Dhludhlu, the manager of communications and marketing for Joburg Water said, “The scope of work entails the construction of approximately 2 500m of 110, 160mm diameter high impact uPVC Class 16 pipes through the Open Trench Method.”
He added that when 675m was completed, the work was stopped by the Region E steering committee.
Dhludhlu said that the Region E steering committee, whose goal is to ensure that community interests are represented, had some demands that needed to be addressed before the work could continue. The work stopped on 17 May.
Some of the demands made by the steering committee included ensuring that the project empowers locals, there must by a community liaison officer to represent the locals, the project has to contribute 30 per cent to the community and they wanted subcontractors to be included in the process.
Humphries said that he thinks it’s admirable that the project aims to empower people within the community but said that service delivery needs still need to be addressed.
Dhludhlu said, “The above-mentioned issues raised are in the process of being resolved. They are looking into resuming work sometime next week.”
Details: Joburg Water 0860 562 874.
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