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After Zille’s Pothole Swim, Johannesburg Repairs Burst Pipe and Fills Hole

The quick fix turned a chronic leak into a test of the city’s service delivery.

Overview

  • Zille, who is running for Johannesburg mayor, filmed herself snorkeling in a water‑filled road trench on Saturday to spotlight a long‑running leak in Douglasdale.
  • Mayor Dada Morero said Sunday crews from Johannesburg Water repaired the burst steel pipe and filled the hole, and the area is now cordoned off.
  • City teams flushed pooled water, replaced failed pipework and began reinstatement, a process that requires checks before the road is retarred.
  • Morero urged Zille not to enter active repair sites and warned that such stunts can encourage risky behavior, while officials said city assets are off‑limits for campaigning.
  • Residents say they reported the problem for about three years, and Zille said she will return to verify the fix as service delivery remains a central issue in the run‑up to local elections.