Ferndale on Republic shopping centre in Randburg has warned that rubble that has been lying around a hole dug to fix a burst stormwater pipe for six months presents a big risk to motorists and shoppers.
This as service delivery in the City of Johannesburg continues to deteriorate, frustrating both property owners and rate payers alike.
The mall is co-owned by Moolman’s Group, PHG & Sasol Pension Fund.
General manager of the shopping centre Francois du Buisson said that the burst water pipe has been a big issue since July, affecting the community and local businesses.
While Joburg Water repaired the burst water pipe about the same time, the stormwater pipe remains in disrepair after the leak that caused the burst.
“Access to essential businesses — including the Astron Energy Filling Station, the Mercure Inn Hotel, and the Ferndale on Republic Shopping Centre — has been disrupted, creating delays for patrons, delivery vehicles, and hotel guests. We also believe the increased safety risks for motorists and pedestrians are cause for concern,” he said.
Du Buisson stressed the importance of swiftly addressing the issue to enhance the area’s accessibility and appeal, particularly for local and international visitors. Ferndale, being a vibrant hub, would greatly benefit the community and the businesses that contribute to its vitality. However, the rubble remains unremoved, and the hole continues to gape.
According to the Johannesburg Road Agency the damage caused to the stormwater pipes that lead to the servitude requires intensive construction. A consultant has already been appointed to investigate the damage and to fix it.
The delay in repairs is due to it awaiting a quote approval from Joburg Water, the agency said. Once accepted, the investigation and repairs will begin, though no specific time frames can be provided, as they depend on the findings of the investigation.
Joburg Water spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala said that the water utility was reviewing the quotation from the agency and will respond accordingly to the agency once the quotation has been reviewed and accepted.
“The subsequent repairs can only be done once the quote has been approved. The work that was already done by Johannesburg Water was repairs to a 700mm water pipeline. Because the Johannesburg Water team couldn’t reach the pipe, the team had to use an excavator to dig 6m deep into the ground to reach the pipe,” Shabalala said.
She added that the timeline for repairing leaking and burst pipes could vary and may be delayed depending on the complexity of the repairs, the machinery and labour required, and weather conditions, as work cannot proceed during rainy or wet weather.
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