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Johannesburg Water, road repairs, Kensington B, Nerina Street

Residents of Kensington B have expressed growing frustration with Johannesburg Water (JW) over a neglected excavation on Nerina Street that has made the road nearly impassable for seven months. The open trench, left after water leak repairs, has blocked one lane, creating hazardous conditions for motorists and pedestrians alike.
The issue began on May 28, when a concerned resident reported a water leak near Milner Road to Ward 104 Councillor Emi Koekemoer while heading to a voting venue. Though JW promptly repaired the leak, the road was never reinstated, leaving behind rubble and an excavation that remains unattended.
“It’s disappointing that no repairs have been attempted for so long,” the resident said. “Water is a precious resource that needs to be conserved, but it seems like it’s not a priority for the authorities. This lack of oversight and accountability needs to change.”
The resident also highlighted that JW is funded by taxpayers, who expect proper maintenance of water infrastructure.

Picture: Mthulisi Lwazi Khuboni
Ward Councillor Koekemoer described the situation as emblematic of broader infrastructure neglect in the city.
“Reinstatements have become a telling picture of the decay of city infrastructure—almost like open graves where service delivery goes to die. These issues take months, sometimes years, to resolve,” Koekemoer said.
She also emphasized the safety risks posed by such excavations, both for drivers and pedestrians, while pointing out that neglected repairs contribute to the deterioration of surrounding road surfaces.
This issue isn’t isolated to Nerina Street. Republic Road, near the Ferndale on Republic Shopping Centre, has similarly been left unrestored after JW fixed a pipe in July last year.
Questions sent to Johannesburg Water regarding the delays in reinstating Nerina Street and Republic Road remained unanswered at the time of publication. Any updates from JW will be shared as they become available.
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