Joburg's 'Bree Street' finally completed after two-year delay
After more than two years of setbacks, disputes, and mounting public frustration, Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero is set to officially reopen Lillian Ngoyi Street (formerly Bree Street) this month. The city has finally completed Phase 1 of the long-delayed rehabilitation project in the city’s CBD.
The vital arterial road has remained closed since July 2023 following a catastrophic underground gas explosion that tore through several blocks, severely damaging infrastructure and disrupting businesses, transport routes, and daily life in the city centre.
The R192 million repair project, which was initially expected to take just over a year, dragged on for 26 months — double the projected timeline — due in part to contractual disputes.
A fallout with the initial contractor resulted in the termination of their agreement in 2024, causing significant delays.
For over two years, residents and businesses along Lillian Ngoyi Street have faced uncertainty and daily disruption.
I am are pleased to finally restore this key corridor to the people of Johannesburg, Morero said.
Despite the city’s optimism, critics remain unconvinced.
During a site visit in July, Democratic Alliance Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga expressed skepticism: “If anything is completed here, I will give you my left kidney. It’s not going to happen by September. This is more than a month’s job.”
His comments reflected broader concerns about the city’s ongoing struggle to manage infrastructure projects.
Lillian Ngoyi Street is just one of several initiatives that have fallen behind schedule.
Key inner-city upgrades — including stormwater system repairs in Newtown, bridge maintenance in Selby, and pavement upgrades in Hillbrow — are also lagging behind, raising concerns about planning inefficiencies and oversight.
Phase 2 of the Lillian Ngoyi project will now begin, focusing on beautification, improved lighting, and pedestrian-friendly enhancements.
However, many residents remain wary.
“We’ve heard promises before,” said Jeff Sithole, a local business owner.
Sithole said they will believe that work is taking place once they see it.
As Johannesburg’s leadership celebrates this long-awaited milestone, attention now turns to whether the city can learn from its delays — and deliver critical projects on time in the future.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
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