The City of Tshwane’s newly-launched ThibaDiLeaks campaign, also known as the Stop the Leaks campaign, is targeting Region 6, encompassing areas such as Nellmapius, Mamelodi, and Moreletapark.

According to the city, the region is facing water losses due to recurring pipe bursts caused by fluctuating water pressure, aging pipelines, and the theft or vandalism of pressure-reducing valves.

Frans Boshielo, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Utility Services, said the city intends to intensify service delivery blitzes to curb water losses, which are also exacerbated by illegal structures built over servitudes and pipelines, hindering maintenance work.

He said: “Over the past few weeks, multidisciplinary teams deployed to wards 15, 17, and 86 made remarkable progress – repairing 45 pipe leaks, attending to 65 sewer blockages, replacing four water meters, repairing 49 meters, and resolving two illegal meter connections.”

The interventions, he said, emphasise the city’s determination to maintain efficient water and sanitation systems that ensure consistent, quality service to residents. 

Two dedicated meter-repair teams will continue working in wards 15 and 87 over the next few weeks to complete the repairs.

“Similarly, the Region 3 sewer team will persist with clearing blockages in wards 15 and 17 as part of efforts to stabilise sewer flows and prevent future overflows,” Boshielo said.

He explained that the ThibaDiLeaks or Stop the Leaks campaign is more than a slogan, but it is a citywide commitment to preserve every drop of water.

“Every repaired pipe, every replaced meter, and every illegal connection removed represents a tangible step towards a more efficient and sustainable water network. To address recurring infrastructure challenges, the city will reinstate stolen pressure-reducing valves, install pressure-monitoring sensors in high-pressure zones, and introduce soft-start protocols after maintenance to prevent sudden bursts.” 

Additionally, he said, the city will put in place measures, which include identifying high-risk areas for priority pipeline replacement, boosting supply capacity for Mamelodi East, repairing damaged sewer pipelines, and disconnecting unauthorised connections in Mamelodi Phase 1.

The city has ramped up its repair campaign with the recent launch of a new digital dashboard that tracks water consumption and losses, boosting transparency and accountability in water management.

The web-based platform, available on the city’s website, is a key component of the city’s strategy to monitor water consumption and losses, manage demand, and reduce non-revenue water. 

Boshielo said the initiative aligns with the national Department of Water and Sanitation “No Drop” programme, which focuses on enhancing water efficiency and loss management. 

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

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