Despite the ANC-led Tshwane Council failing dismally in service delivery, ANC Ward 61 Councillor, Naeem Patel, has proudly announced his intention to stand for another 5 years to represent the ANC, notwithstanding the ANC being accused many times of being corrupt and of failing South Africans concerning service delivery.
In one of the many ongoing complaints of poor service delivery in Tshwane, received by the Laudium Sun recently, residents of 25th Avenue, Laudium, are complaining about a water pipe leakage that occurred on Monday (June 8).
The furious residents said that despite complaints to the Council and to Cllr Patel’s office, the problem of the leak, resulting in clean water being wasted, had still not been attended to by Wednesday, three days later.
Govind Chetty of 25th Avenue, told the Laudium Sun, “There has been an ongoing water leakage, seemingly due to a worn out or burst water pipe, on our street, since Monday and despite reporting the matter to the Council, nothing has been done so far, 3 days later. It is extremely frustrating for us, as residents, to see such a serious problem being ignored. A large amount of clean water has been continuously leaking from the burst pipe and this is a complete and unacceptable waste of a very valuable resource. What makes the situation even worse is that too often, we experience water shortages in Laudium. There are days when residents struggle without water, yet at the same time, we are witnessing thousands of litres of clean water being wasted by the Council due to a leak that should have been fixed by now. It simply does not make sense. This clearly shows a lack of urgency and responsibility from the Council, when it comes to service delivery in Laudium. As residents, we feel neglected and unheard. We take time to report these issues, hoping that the relevant authorities will respond and resolve them promptly, but unfortunately, this is not the case. Instead, the problem continues to worsen and the amount of water being wasted increases with each passing day. It is deeply concerning that such inefficiency is allowed to continue. The Council is responsible for providing and maintaining infrastructure of basic services, such as water, sewage and drain pipes for any community. Allowing water to be wasted in this manner reflects poorly on those in charge, including the Councillor in our area. We are truly tired and disappointed with the poor service of the Tshwane Council in our area. It feels as though Laudium is not being taken seriously by the Councillor and the Council and residents are left to deal with ongoing issues without any proper support or action. We urge the Tshwane Council and Ward Cllr Patel to take immediate responsibility and address this problem before even more water is wasted. All we are asking for is accountability and efficient service delivery. This situation cannot continue much longer and something needs to be done urgently to fix the leakage and prevent further waste.”
Imtiaz Alli, also of 25th Avenue, told the Laudium Sun, “The situation on our street has become extremely concerning due to a persistent water leak from a seemingly burst pipe that has been left unattended to, for three days now. Residents have already alerted the Council, yet there has been no visible response or effort to resolve the issue. It is disheartening to witness such disregard for a matter that directly impacts the community. An enormous volume of potable water continues to stream down the street daily. This is not just an inconvenience, it represents serious neglect of an essential resource. In a country where drought conditions and supply interruptions are common, allowing such a loss to continue unchecked is both irresponsible and alarming. What adds to the frustration is the fact that households in this area frequently experience dry taps or reduced pressure. At the same time, we are seeing streams upon streams of water flowing freely into the drains. It highlights a clear imbalance and raises questions about priorities when it comes to infrastructure maintenance, by the Municipality. Community members have made multiple attempts to escalate the matter, hoping for urgent intervention. Unfortunately, these efforts have not yet produced any results. Each passing day only worsens the problem and the damage to the road surface is also becoming more noticeable due to the constant flow of water seeping. There is also a growing sense of disappointment among residents. Many feel that their concerns are not being taken seriously by the Tshwane Council nor the Ward Councillor and that there is a lack of accountability from those responsible for service delivery. Basic utilities such as precious water should be safeguarded and managed efficiently, yet this incident suggests otherwise.”
Local resident, Sorojini Pillay of Heliodor Street, told the Laudium Sun, “It is important to understand that this is not merely about a leaking pipe, it is a broader issue of neglect and poor response systems. Communities rely on local authorities to act swiftly in situations like these, especially when public resources are being wasted on such a scale. As Ratepayers, we expect a certain level of commitment and professionalism. Instead, we are left dealing with ongoing challenges, without any clear communication or timeline for resolution. This creates unnecessary stress and frustration for everyone living in the area. We urge the relevant Municipal department to prioritize this water leak and take immediate corrective action. The longer it is delayed, the greater the loss becomes not only in terms of water but also in terms of public trust.”