The main thoroughfare of Queen Street in Kensington, Johannesburg, has been torn up for six months, causing chaos for residents, businesses, and commuters. The pipe replacement project, undertaken by Johannesburg Water, has left the road in a state of disrepair, with cars and trucks getting stuck in the mud and traffic spilling into surrounding streets. The project, which began in March 2026, aims to replace approximately 400m of pipeline.
The disruptions have had a severe impact on businesses along Queen Street, with some reporting falls in customer numbers and sales of between 40% and 70%. Traders have appealed for urgent intervention, warning that jobs and businesses could be at risk if the situation is not resolved soon. The community drive to revive Kensington, a historic suburb on the eastern edge of Johannesburg's inner city, is also being frustrated by the ongoing disruptions.
Kevin Pass of Better Kensington, a community initiative to uplift the suburb, expressed frustration at the situation. He said the ongoing refusal or inability by the City to fix Queen Street is having terrible consequences for the suburb, harming businesses and residents alike. Pass emphasized that the community's efforts to clean up the area and restore neglected public spaces are being undermined by the disruptions.
Johannesburg Water spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala said that another section of pipeline still needs to be replaced, and additional material is being sourced. The entity did not provide a confirmed date for when the road will be restored to its original surface but said that the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) quotation to permanently reinstate Queen Street remains "in discussion and pending approval".
Ward 118 councillor Neuren Pietersen has appealed to the City's mayoral committee members (MMCs) to intervene, citing concerns about the condition of Queen Street and the risk of further deterioration. Pietersen estimated that the cost of reinstatement could be around R13-million and warned that the prolonged deterioration of the road was affecting businesses, residents, commuters, and the broader local economy.
As the situation continues, Johannesburg Water has promised to backfill the site to ground level as a temporary measure, with arrangements underway to start by 30 September 2026. However, businesses and residents remain uncertain about when Queen Street will be fully restored. The incident highlights the challenges faced by communities when infrastructure projects drag on, causing significant disruptions to daily life and economic activity.
Key points
- Businesses in Kensington have reported a 70% decline in sales due to the ongoing disruptions.
- The pipe replacement project on Queen Street has been ongoing for six months, with no confirmed date for completion.
- The estimated cost of reinstatement is around R13-million, according to Ward 118 councillor Neuren Pietersen.
