Lilian Ngoyi (Bree) Street to reopen on 12 September following completion of repairs

Mapaballo Borotho

Lilian Ngoyi Street in Johannesburg will reopen on 12 September after nearly two years of repairs.
The road was damaged by a gas explosion in July 2023 that claimed one life.
Phase one of the reconstruction is complete, but the street remains closed until the official reopening.

Lilian Ngoyi Street, popularly known as Bree Street in the City of Johannesburg, has finally undergone significant repairs and is set to reopen to traffic on 12 September.

The City of Johannesburg’s Executive Mayor, Dada Morero, confirmed on Monday that phase one of the restoration project has been completed.

This marks a major milestone nearly two years after a devastating underground gas explosion tore through the area in July 2023, claiming one life and injuring several others.

Although the structural repairs are complete, the street will not be reopened immediately.

The newly rebuilt roadway now features paving bricks instead of the traditional tar surface, a change aimed at improving both safety and durability.

Despite initial assurances from city officials that the road would be back in operation soon after repairs, the area remains closed to traffic as final preparations are underway.

This delay has further postponed the long-awaited revival of business activity in the once-bustling district.

Speaking from the site on Monday, Mayor Morero acknowledged the completion of the first phase of work but reiterated that the road would remain closed until its official reopening on 12 September.

Today, we stand firmly on Lilian Ngoyi Street, formerly Bree Street to commemorate a significant milestone in Johannesburg’s ongoing journey of recovery and renewal. #LillianNgoyiStreet pic.twitter.com/Wom5YPtsSf

— Executive Mayor of the City Of Joburg (@DadaMorero) September 1, 2025