Residents of Sekampaneng Ward 8 in Hammanskraal say they are at their wits’ end after allegedly enduring a major water leak on their main road for more than three years without any meaningful intervention. The ongoing problem, they claim, has turned daily life into a struggle and exposed the community to health and safety risks.
Mr Simon Khumalo, a resident of the area, described the situation as a serious lack of service delivery. According to him, the problem began when a large water pipe burst along the main road, and despite numerous complaints, it has not been repaired. As a result, the road remains flooded, disrupting movement throughout the community and increasingly damaging nearby properties.
“The whole road is full of water. We are trying to call, but there is no help. Would you please help us?” Mr Khumalo pleaded.
The constant flow of water has created ongoing challenges for motorists and pedestrians, with some residents forced to navigate through pools of water daily. Property owners have also been affected. One resident reportedly built a wall to prevent water from entering his yard, but it continues to seep beneath it, slowly damaging the very structure meant to protect his home.
Beyond the inconvenience and structural damage, residents say the stagnant water is posing health risks. The pooling water is attracting insects and raising fears of possible disease outbreaks, leaving community members worried about their safety and well-being.
Mr Khumalo alleges that he and other residents have made countless follow-ups over the past three years, including calls and messages to Ward Councillor Buwas Macheke, but claim they have not received any response. Clr Macheke, however, stated that leakages should be formally reported and accompanied by reference numbers to ensure they are properly logged and attended to.
The ward councillor also responded to the concerns, saying residents are aware of the reporting process for service delivery issues. “If there is no progress, they should report to me so that I can follow up,” the councillor said. He explained that the area is experiencing widespread water infrastructure problems, noting many leaks, including in Suurman, and that he has up to 150 complaints recorded on his phone. According to him, the water pipes in the area are old and leaking in multiple places, and the municipality has only two teams serving a large area, making it difficult to address all reported cases promptly.
The councillor further indicated that the municipality is facing financial challenges and that the ageing water system needs to be replaced entirely to resolve the ongoing issues. He added that the MMC for Finance previously visited the area to address water problems and cleared all debts on water accounts, acknowledging that residents had not been receiving adequate services. The water was reportedly dirty and had even made some residents sick, and as a result, the municipality could not expect people to pay for contaminated water. “All water accounts were erased so that the municipality and community could start afresh,” he said.
