Metro unaware residents buying materials to repair pipes
The Tshwane metro says it is unaware that residents in Waterkloof Glen were forced to buy their own materials to fix a series of burst pipes earlier this month.
However, Ward 47 Councillor Lida Erasmus, who was standing in for Ward 83 Councillor Andrew Lesch at the time, sent a message in the community group thanking residents for stepping in with supplies and tools.
Erasmus confirmed that residents in Tolstoi Street had to source their own pipe connectors.
She also said she personally called her husband to deliver a four-pound hammer to break concrete that was obscuring the pipe.
In the message to residents, Erasmus thanked residents who contributed and bought materials.
'Thanks also to the two residents who bought some pipe connections to assist, and the residents who assisted with lights tonight.'
She further praised metro workers who stayed on site until late, but made it clear that residents filled in where municipal services fell short.
The pipe reportedly burst four times in the same spot, just above the original repair site, and seven times in total over the first weekend of May.
Lesch said the situation was unacceptable and unfair to residents.
'It's not right for ratepayers to fund infrastructure with their taxes and then still be expected to buy materials out of pocket,' Lesch said.
'The teams need proper oversight. Someone should be checking whether they have the correct tools and materials before they leave the depot.'
Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the metro is not aware of residents buying materials for repairs.
'The city is not aware of residents purchasing materials themselves,' he said.
He added that technical teams are always dispatched with the necessary tools.
Mashigo explained that the full extent of damage often isn't clear until the pipeline is exposed, which can affect the materials needed.
However, he maintained that the metro has internal storage stocked with essential components, and that daily checklists are in place to ensure maintenance teams are equipped.
'All maintenance teams have daily checklists, which ensure that they have all the necessary tools and equipment required for maintenance before they can travel to the sites.'
When asked about recurring pipe bursts, Mashigo said the metro has embarked on a programme of replacing aged infrastructure.
He added that currently, critical areas are being prioritised, which will be followed by other aged infrastructure that is less critical across the metro.
'There are teams dedicated to areas with critically aged infrastructure to ensure that water leaks are attended to timeously.'
ALSO READ: Cable theft in the east costs metro over R4m
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
7 hours ago
- The Citizen
Local church blesses Leeuwfontein residents with massive outreach
More than 200 families from Leeuwfontein informal settlement in the far east of Mamelodi were blessed on Saturday with heart-warming donations to keep warm in winter. The donations were made by Omnipresent International Ministries through the church's massive soup kitchen outreach programme held at Leeuwfontein sports ground on Saturday. Bishop Basani Madiseng said the aim was to provide people with clothes for the winter ahead, blankets, a warm cup of soup, a meal and packs of sanitary pads for girls to take home, as well as prayer. Madiseng said the massive outreach programme was part of the church's mandate of taking care of the needy. 'We went to Leeuwfontein informal settlement to engage with the community, feed the needy with spiritual and physical food. We prepared hot soup with pap, clothed them, prayed for them, led them to God and gave them blankets for them to be warm this winter,' said Madiseng. She said the outreach is an ongoing programme, which started in 2016, buying school uniforms for the needy and feeding them. The soup kitchen started with prayer and praise, sharing of their testimonies and thanking God for the changes in their lives. 'We have seen school children being encouraged to go to school because they also had decent uniforms like other children and sanitary pads,' said Madiseng. 'We have learnt that many students dropped out of school because of a lack of proper uniforms, but since we extended our hand as a ministry to assist where we could, the hopeless' hope was restored, and for that, we thank God. 'As a ministry, we believe we need to make a difference in our communities by taking care of each other.' She also said the church was launched in 2015 and has been ordained by God to take care of the needy and bring hope to the hopeless. 'Our vision is found in Psalm 82:3-4: 'Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; free them from the hand of the wicked',' she said. The church members donated money in support of the soup kitchen, clothes and sanitary pads, because they saw many homeless people and vulnerable families going hungry. The next outreach programme is to donate school shoes to one of the schools that the church has adopted. The church is situated at Leeuwfontein Heights Plot 148-149 at Baviaanspoort Road. Anyone who wants to help with donations can contact Pastor Basani Madiseng on 072 184 7288. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- The Citizen
City technician recovering in hospital after electric shock
A Tshwane electrician who suffered an electric shock while conducting tests to locate a faulty cable in Equestria on June 17 is reported to be in a stable condition, according to the metro. Spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the injured technician is being monitored after he was airlifted to Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg on June 18. The incident occurred during restoration efforts following a widespread outage that affected several suburbs in the east on June 16. The outage was linked to a trip at the Wapadrand Substation. Technicians were deployed the next day and traced the issue to a cable fault. However, while the team was conducting tests to pinpoint the fault, one of the electricians suffered an electric shock and sustained burn injuries. The substation transformer also tripped again. Emergency services were called immediately, and the injured worker was stabilised on site before being transported to hospital for further care. MMC for Utility Services Frans Boshielo, accompanied by senior managers, visited the technician on June 18. Boshielo said the visit was to assess the situation and give support to the family. 'Our technician was unfortunately injured by electrical equipment whilst on duty,' he explained. Boshielo said they met with the family at the hospital, who said they appreciated the presence of the city's officials. 'While it's still early to give any comment about his condition, we were nonetheless assured of the best care possible that is being afforded to him,' he said. Boshielo expressed his appreciation to the staff at Milpark and the family. 'In the meantime, we must allow him time to recover and to keep our colleague and his family in all our prayers.' He added that as the Energy and Electricity Department, they were anguished by the incident and wished their colleague a speedy recovery. 'We wish to inform our staff who need counselling to inform their managers so that they can be assisted as soon as possible. Safety of our employees is of importance, and we will comply with the OHS Act, Act no 85 of 1993 requirements.' Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Crèches are now ready to fight fires
Crèches are now ready to fight fires Tshwane has delivered fire safety equipment, including serviced and upgraded extinguishers, hose reels and hydrants, to nine early childhood development centres in regions 3 and 6. This comes after a routine inspection by the DA caucus's Section 79 Community and Social Development oversight committee, chaired by Phuti Kwenaite. 'Recently, we pointed out there are maintenance elements that have been neglected in Tshwane's ECDs.' She said the fire extinguisher problem was supposed to be addressed two years ago. Kwenaite highlighted the significant risk posed when fire extinguishers are neither present nor functional. 'It is a big risk for the extinguishers not to be there and functioning. 'This is why the fire department took some time for some of these ECDs to open.' MMC for Corporate and Shared Services Kholofelo Morodi confirmed that Tshwane has completed the servicing and upgrading of fire-fighting equipment, with a sharp focus on ECD centres. She said the initiative, executed by Group Property Management, ensures full compliance with national safety standards, specifically SANS 10400 Part T (fire safety) and SANS 1475 (fire extinguishers). Marodi added that these mandate the installation, maintenance and servicing of portable fire suppression equipment. 'It includes the maintenance of fire extinguishers, hose reels, and hydrants and forms part of the city's annual fire safety programme.' She said these maintenance efforts signal a broader shift in Tshwane's multiparty coalition prioritising the safety of employees, children and communities. Marodi added that maintaining a safe workplace supports an efficient municipality and reflects Tshwane's commitment to this principle. 'Reinforcing Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards remains pivotal to protecting employees and service users. 'This intervention forms part of an ongoing effort to strengthen internal systems, promote compliance, and safeguard infrastructure, all aimed at delivering reliable and dignified services to residents.' ALSO READ: Mamelodi youth punches back at crime through boxing Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
