Church Street in Mfuleni remains temporarily closed after a sewage pipe burst about three weeks ago, causing flooding and creating a mess on the street. Residents and motorists in the area are urging the City to expedite repairs.
Residents welcome repairs but want faster progress
Kwanele Mbelwa, a resident from the Smarties area, expressed relief that the City is finally addressing the issue.
“The sewage pipe collapsed earlier this month, and the whole street was flooding. It’s good to see the City employees fixing it, but I hope they can complete it quickly because it’s very inconvenient,” he said. Mbelwa noted that outdated infrastructure is likely a major contributor to the problem and emphasised that all he wants is for the road to reopen.
Motorists forced to take alternative routes
Motorist Asanda Matutu said the closure has forced her to take alternative routes.
“This area can be dangerous. Hijackings happen here frequently. When this road is closed, I have to take other routes to get home,” said Matutu, adding that she hopes the project can be finished soon.
Ward 114 councillor Ernest Madikane described the sewage pipe collapse as a setback but said the City is working to resolve the issue.
Ageing infrastructure blamed for the problem
“Parts of Mfuleni face challenges due to ageing infrastructure. The Smarties area is one of those areas. It is one of the oldest parts of Mfuleni, built in the late 70s and early 80s. It seems the underground infrastructure can no longer accommodate the current population in the area,” he said.
Madikane said the project can be completed by the end of this month or early next month.
