Council services remain slippery… as water gushes on Emerald Str for over a month

Fingers are once more being pointed to the ANC-led Tshwane Council, concerning poor service delivery in Ward 61.

This time, residents of Emerald Street are complaining about a water pipe which burst more than a month ago with lots of clean water gushing out, resulting not only in a wastage of clean water, but causing the area to become a mess.

Emerald Street resident, Hanif Rassool, told the Laudium Sun, “The water pipe burst more than a month ago, but still no Council people have attended to this problem, despite lots of clean water being wasted and the area around the leak being in a big mess. We have reported this leakage many times, but we are just being ignored. We even contacted Councillor Patel’s office and the local Council office, but the leak has still been carrying on. This is a huge problem and at night we can’t even walk, as there is a big hole forming where the water pipe burst and it is dangerous for people who are walking on the street. Service delivery from the Council is really poor. The situation on Emerald Street continues to become worse each day as the water from the burst pipe flows nonstop, spreading across the road and soaking the ground. The area around the broken pipe is becoming weak and unstable, forming a large muddy section that stretches across a long part of the street. The hole that started forming when the pipe burst is now growing bigger and deeper, creating fear among residents who use the street daily, that it may lead to a huge sinkhole, which could cause loss of life and damages to houses in the area. Many people are worried that the road might collapse further because the surface is soft and cracking in several places. The water continues to wash away soil and small stones, leaving behind uneven ground that makes it difficult and unsafe for cars to pass. At times vehicles try to go around the damaged area, but the wet surface causes wheels to slip, creating an additional risk for drivers. Pedestrians also struggle, especially in the evening when visibility is low and the hole becomes even more dangerous when walking as one could easily step into the hole and get injured. The amount of clean water being wasted is shocking, because water is gushing day and night without stopping. Many people in other places do not even have water, yet here a large amount of clean water is flowing freely onto the street. The dampness in the area is also attracting insects and the constant wet smell is becoming unpleasant for households nearby. The community is frustrated because living in this condition is becoming unbearable. Just where is our Councillor? Why is he not taking urgent steps to ensure that the leak is fixed? I just cannot understand.”

Chantel Moodley, also of Emerald Street, told the Laudium Sun, “The leaking water pipe in front of my house is causing a big problem for us. We have reported this issue to the Council, but still no one from the Council office came to check or have it fixed. The water is clean and is going to waste every day. The leak has been ongoing for a long time and is becoming worse, as more water flows out and spreads across the road. We are often told by the politicians to save water, but it is so sad that the very same people who preach to us are not saving precious, clean water.”