Tshwane Water Infrastructure Crisis

Tshwane Water Infrastructure Crisis: Pipe Bursts Disrupt Services Across the City

Tshwane is grappling with a series of water infrastructure failures, leading to widespread service disruptions across multiple regions. Aging pipes, delayed maintenance, and environmental factors have converged to exacerbate the crisis.

Garsfontein: Repeated Pipe Bursts and Community Distress

In Garsfontein, residents have endured up to 26 water outages in just 13 days during January 2025. The area’s reliance on deteriorating asbestos pipes has led to frequent bursts, leaving communities without water for extended periods. Ward 45 Councillor Elizabeth Basson highlighted the urgency of replacing the aging infrastructure, noting that some streets experienced multiple bursts in a single day. The city has initiated design plans for pipeline replacement, but residents continue to face hardships, including flooded properties and health concerns in schools due to non-functional sanitation facilities.

Akasia and Heatherdale: Persistent Leaks and Infrastructure Decay

Residents in Akasia and Heatherdale have expressed frustration over a persistent water leak that has plagued the community for over four months. The Tshwane metro has acknowledged the challenges posed by the aging bulk water pipe network and has indicated plans to replace the dilapidated infrastructure. A dedicated team has been constituted to address water leaks across wards 2, 4, and 98, prioritizing repairs based on severity. Local resident Andre Brink criticized the metro’s delayed response, emphasizing the significant water loss and damage to road surfaces.

Centurion: Sewage Overflows and Health Hazards

Centurion faces a sewage crisis intensified by illegal connections and misuse of the sewer system. Residents have reported frequent leaks and bursts, leading to blockages and overflows. In Eldoraigne, a sewer pipe burst at the Flaho complex caused significant distress, with residents exposed to unsanitary conditions for extended periods. The metro has linked these issues to community members throwing foreign objects into sewer lines and connecting gutters to the system. Long-term solutions, such as upgrading Centurion’s sewer system, are being considered in the upcoming Integrated Development Plan (IDP).

Salvokop and Pretoria CBD: Major Pipeline Failure

A significant pipeline burst in Salvokop disrupted water supply to several areas, including Sunnyside, Arcadia, and parts of the Pretoria CBD. The incident led to the loss of thousands of kilolitres of potable water. The city deployed approximately 100 water tankers to affected areas, but repairs are expected to take between four and seven days. The metro emphasized the urgency of addressing the recurring pipe bursts and urged residents to use water sparingly during the outage.

Citywide Challenges: Aging Infrastructure and Water Loss

Tshwane’s aging water infrastructure contributes to the loss of approximately 7.8 million kilolitres of water monthly. Factors such as water theft, illegal connections, and vandalism exacerbate the situation. The city has initiated a pipe replacement program, allocating R66 million to replace about 13,000 meters of old pipes. Collaborations with international partners aim to improve leak detection and water management practices.

Community Impact and Response

The recurring infrastructure failures have significantly impacted residents’ daily lives, leading to property damage, health risks, and economic losses. In Soshanguve, residents resorted to collecting water from a burst pipe due to prolonged outages, highlighting the dire consequences of service delivery failures.

The City of Tshwane acknowledges the challenges and is taking steps to address the infrastructure issues. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen, as communities continue to grapple with the consequences of aging and failing water systems.