BEZ VALLEY, Gauteng — The Bez Valley infrastructure project, initially designed to resolve chronic water and sewer leaks, has completely collapsed, leaving residents of Bez Valley and Bertrams east of Johannesburg without consistent water and electricity for two years. What was intended to be a vital pipe replacement initiative has devolved into a hazardous maze of open trenches, ruined roads, and damaged electricity infrastructure after three consecutive main contractors abandoned the site.
A Timeline of Delays and Contractor Turnover
The severe infrastructure issues in the community were first identified in 2022, with aging pipes bursting and raw sewage flooding the area. However, it was not until March 2024 that the City of Johannesburg, through Johannesburg Water, officially launched the pipe replacement project.
The project has been plagued by severe mismanagement and contractor turnover. Johannesburg Water initially appointed Mangete as the first main contractor. Due to slow progress, a second main contractor, Black Cherry, was introduced in June 2025 with a different scope of work. Most recently, in February 2026, a third main contractor, Ono Civils, was added to the project.
While the first two contractors were given an eight-month timeframe to complete their respective scopes, Ono Civils was allocated 11 months. Today, all timeframes have lapsed, and the site has been abandoned for over a year.
Devastating Impact on the Community
Residents are now bearing the brunt of the stalled project. During the initial excavation, contractors allegedly cut off electricity to local homes and damaged existing infrastructure. Today, surviving electricity poles are being held together by ropes, and roads have been left in ruins.
Water supply in the area is highly erratic, with some residents receiving water only once a week or once every two weeks. Furthermore, raw sewage has backed up into homes, creating a severe health hazard.
Community members report that the open, unmarked trenches have made the neighborhood highly vulnerable to crime. Children are unable to play outside safely, and the general quality of life has drastically deteriorated.
Payment Disputes and Subcontractor Crisis
The root cause of the abandonment, according to the contractors, is non-payment by the City. A standard clause in City of Johannesburg contracts allows contractors to suspend work if payments are delayed by more than three months. Ono Civils, which began working in February 2026, alleges it has not received any payment from Johannesburg Water to date.
The payment failures have also triggered a crisis at the subcontractor level. Under the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA), main contractors on qualifying government tenders exceeding R30 million must subcontract at least 30% of the project value to local small, medium, and micro-enterprises (SMMEs).
A local subcontractor hired by Ono Civils for manual labor reported being appointed in June and starting work in July. Contractually, Ono Civils was supposed to pay the subcontractor R300,000 per month. However, the subcontractor was paid only R40,000 for a single month.
“We need to do medicals for our laborers; they need to get vaccines for the sewer because they go underground,” the subcontractor spokesperson explained. “We need to pay all of those, but we didn’t get the money.”
Government Accountability and Silence
Contractors and community leaders have taken their grievances to the City of Johannesburg via email. According to the contractors, the relevant Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) is aware of the situation. The MMC reportedly promised last week to meet with Mayor Morel on Tuesday to address the crisis, but contractors and residents remain in the dark.
Inquiries directed to Johannesburg Water and City Power for clarification were redirected to the City of Johannesburg, which has yet to confirm an interview or provide an official response.
Frustrated residents are demanding a municipality that prioritizes its citizens, responds to queries, and ensures projects are fully funded before commencement. While the exact cost to the taxpayer remains unconfirmed by the City, residents allege the total budget for the Bez Valley infrastructure project is R40 million.
Until the City resolves the payment disputes and resumes work, the community of Bez Valley remains trapped in a hazardous construction zone with no end in sight.
