Another week and yet again residents have been complaining about the ANC controlled Tshwane Council, concerning poor service delivery.
Amongst the complaints received this week, residents say that despite numerous calls to the Tshwane Council and to the office of ANC Cllr Naeem Patel, concerning an underground water pipe leaking, their complaints have simply been ignored. The concerned residents added that the water leak on 1st Avenue, near the entrance of Laudium, started on Mandela Day (Sat, July 18) and despite several complaints, clean water continues to be wasted as water flows out onto the street, with Council workers still to attend to and repair the leak. Concerns have also been raised that a sinkhole could erupt at the spot of the leak, which would then cause great inconvenience for motorists, as the leak is at the main entrance in and out of Laudium.
Shezad Ajmeri, a resident of 1st Avenue, Laudium, told the Laudium Sun, “I’m very disappointed to see how the Council workers are neglecting to attend to repairs nowadays. Clean water has been leaking underneath the street on 1st Avenue for five days already, since Saturday (July 18). It is now Wednesday, but they are yet to come out and fix the problem. I believe there is a burst or damaged underground water pipe causing this problem. There is a lot of clean water flowing continuously since Saturday, but up to now no Council workers have come to address or even inspect the issue. This is extremely frustrating for all of us living in the area because this is not a small problem, it is a serious concern. We are just watching huge amounts of clean, usable water being wasted every single day. This is the same water that many communities struggle to access, yet here it is just running down the street and going to waste. It is very upsetting to see this happening while residents are constantly being told by the Tshwane Council to use water sparingly. We often receive messages from Ward Councillor, Naeem Patel, reminding us about water shortages and encouraging us to save water wherever possible. However, when we see such a massive leak left unattended to for days, it raises serious questions about accountability and service delivery. This situation is not only about water loss, but also about the condition of our streets. The area now looks dirty and neglected because of the continuous flow of water, which has created mud, unpleasant smells and an unhygienic environment. There is also a danger that the water leak could soon cause a sinkhole, which would then be a huge problem and cause chaos, as this street is the main entrance to Laudium, with most cars using it to get in and out of Laudium. I hope that Cllr Patel will get the Council workers to attend to this matter urgently. This issue needs immediate attention before more water is wasted and the situation worsens. The water being lost here could have been saved and used during times of real shortage. It is unacceptable for such a problem to be ignored for so long.”
believes that a damaged underground pipe is
the cause of large amounts of clean water being wasted, while the Council has not attended to the issue as yet.
Anand Chetty, another resident of 1st Avenue, told the Laudium Sun, “I saw water that has been leaking for a few days now, flowing down the road toward KFC. This is clean water and it is very concerning to see the precious resource being wasted in such a manner, while the Council takes so long to respond and fix the problem. A significant amount of usable water has already been lost and it continues to flow without any sign of urgent intervention from the officials. I really do not understand how such an obvious issue, especially in a highly visible area along the main street of Laudium, can be ignored or delayed for so long. This is not a hidden or hard-to-find problem, it is right there for everyone to see, including passing motorists, pedestrians and surely even officials who travel through the area. Yet, despite this, there has been no immediate action taken to repair what appears to be a leaking or damaged underground pipe. It is frustrating because residents are constantly being reminded about water shortages and the need to conserve every drop. We are told to limit water usage at home, to be careful with how we use water daily and to avoid unnecessary waste. However, situations like this send a completely different message. When thousands of litres of clean water are simply running down the street without being addressed, it feels like those conservation efforts are being undermined. This situation is not only wasteful but also unacceptable. It reflects poorly on service delivery and raises concerns about how quickly essential issues are prioritised and resolved. The longer this continues, the more water is lost and the worse the condition of the surrounding area becomes, as a sinkhole can form, which would be a disaster as it is at the main street into Laudium. This leak needs immediate attention. The Council and our Councillor should act without further delay. The leak should be repaired before more valuable water is wasted or a sinkhole forms. It is truly ridiculous that something so serious has been allowed to continue for days, without any response.”
loss of clean water reflects poorly on service
delivery, adding that there is also the concern
that a sinkhole could form if the issue is left
unattended.
At the time of going to press, the leak still continued. A Council official told the Laudium Sun that the leaking water pipe will be attended to on Friday (Jul 24).