Recurring leak floods Pretoria Avenue, repair held up by funding constraints
A persistent water leak on Pretoria Avenue in Ferndale has become an eyesore and a source of local frustration after water continued to flow down the road for months. Johannesburg Water (JW) confirmed it is aware of the problem but said supply to customers in the area has not been interrupted.
JW spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala said the current failure is on a steel section of pipeline that has deteriorated over time. The damaged stretch was repaired in July 2025, following a major leak that caused a water outage lasting more than three days, but a new leak has emerged in the same location roughly a year after the previous repair.
Shabalala attributed the recurrence to a combination of ageing infrastructure and ground vibrations where the pipe lies in the middle of the road. She said the protective coating on the steel pipe has worn away, making the section more susceptible to corrosion and subsequent leaks.
“The damaged section of the steel pipeline was replaced during the previous repair,” Shabalala said. “The affected steel pipeline will need to be replaced with new infrastructure. Johannesburg Water has plans to replace ageing water infrastructure in the area. However, implementation is subject to the availability of CAPEX funding.”
While JW maintains that the leak represents physical water losses within the network, it emphasised that customers’ water supply in the vicinity has not been affected. Despite this, the continuous flow has caused damage on nearby Harley Street and is a nuisance to residents and businesses around the site.
Ward 102 councillor Bea Campbell-Cloete was pictured at the leak, underscoring municipal awareness. Local residents voiced their frustration: tenant and estate agent Martha Tsela described the situation as disappointing and questioned the quality control of previous repairs.
Local impact and what residents should expect
The visible and ongoing leak raises practical and fiscal questions for residents and ratepayers. Immediate impacts include:
- Surface damage and erosion along Harley Street where the water has run off.
- A nuisance to nearby businesses and flats opposite the leak.
- Continued loss of treated water into the stormwater system or road drains.
Johannesburg Water’s public statement frames the situation as one where permanent replacement is planned but contingent on capital budget availability. No timeline was provided for when the replacement would be implemented.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Previous major leak | July 2025 — repair and temporary outage for over three days |
| Current status | Recurring leak, unattended for months; water supply not affected |
| Planned action | Replace ageing steel pipeline pending CAPEX funding |
For residents, the lack of an immediate replacement raises questions about prioritisation across the water network. JW’s statement that the leak has not affected supply will reassure some, but visible damage and ongoing water loss remain pressing concerns for the local community.
Officials and those responsible for municipal budgets will have to weigh the costs of a permanent replacement against competing infrastructure needs. In the meantime, councillor presence and photographic documentation of the site suggest pressure is mounting for a durable fix rather than repeated patch repairs.
Local road users and residents are advised to take care near the affected section of Pretoria Avenue and Harley Street while the leak remains. Johannesburg Water has been notified and its plans hinge on capital expenditure decisions yet to be finalised.
