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Johannesburg’s Water Crisis Worsens as Power Failures Exacerbate Shortages
Johannesburg is facing an escalating water crisis, with residents enduring prolonged outages, sparking growing frustration and urgent calls for action. The situation has been worsened by repeated power failures, placing additional strain on an ageing water infrastructure already plagued by leaks and high demand.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Councillor Neuren Pietersen expressed his frustration over the lack of progress, saying, “One cannot call it news as there is nothing new.”
The crisis deepened last week after a total power failure at the Emfuleni substation disrupted operations at Rand Water’s Vereeniging Water Treatment Plant. This led to a shutdown of the Forest Hill and Eikenhof pump stations, which supply water to about two-thirds of Johannesburg.
Although power was restored, the disruption further strained the system, which was already under pressure due to hot weather and high consumption levels. According to Johannesburg Water, the network was already vulnerable, and any additional failures severely impact recovery efforts.
The entity estimated that full restoration would take about a week, provided no further disruptions occur. However, several areas, including Crosby, Brixton, Berea, Lenasia, and Orange Farm, remained without water and were under close monitoring.
On Sunday, another power failure at Rand Water’s Lethabo Raw Water Pumping Station caused further setbacks, halting the supply of raw water to the Vereeniging plant. The outage affected multiple areas, including Yeoville, Benoni, Vanderbijlpark, and Sasolburg, as efforts to restore full pumping capacity continued.
The DA has taken legal action, with Johannesburg East constituency head Jack Bloom lodging a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) over the prolonged shortages. The complaint includes hundreds of testimonials from affected residents.
DA Gauteng shadow MEC for infrastructure Nico de Jager also called on Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson to intervene, criticizing the ongoing blame game between Rand Water, Eskom, and City Power.
“The situation demands more than crisis management; it requires a complete overhaul of how our water infrastructure is managed and maintained,” De Jager said.
The Joburg Crisis Alliance (JCA) has also called for urgent municipal accountability, noting that some areas had been without water for weeks. The group criticized Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero for his lack of visibility, saying civil society had been left to step in where leadership was absent.
Experts warn that Johannesburg’s ageing infrastructure is a major contributor to the crisis. WaterCAN, an initiative under the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), highlighted that the city loses 26.5% of its treated drinking water daily due to leaks and burst pipes. This translates to 463 million litres lost every day—enough to fill 185 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
WaterCAN’s executive manager, Dr. Ferrial Adam, said the city’s approach to managing the crisis had been ineffective, relying on short-term solutions such as water tankers instead of addressing the underlying infrastructure issues.
“Blaming demand is a weak excuse when people have had no water for days. The city must address leaks instead of relying on ineffective short-term solutions,” Adam said.
Johannesburg Water’s Asset Management Plan recommends renewing 2% of the city’s water infrastructure annually, but due to budget constraints, only 0.9% is being replaced. With a reported R27-billion backlog in infrastructure upgrades, the city faces a significant funding gap. Water mains replacement alone requires an estimated R3.3 billion, but Johannesburg Water’s capital budget currently stands at just R1.2 billion.
WaterCAN has called on the city to increase its budget for water and sanitation infrastructure. The group recently submitted a petition to the Johannesburg City Council, urging a significant boost in capital expenditure. The petition is expected to be tabled at the next council meeting on 26 February.
Call for Long-Term Solutions
As Johannesburg grapples with ongoing water shortages, the demand for immediate and long-term solutions grows louder. Residents and advocacy groups continue to push for better planning, investment in infrastructure, and clear communication from city officials.
To report a water leak, residents can contact Johannesburg Water via:
- Online: jwfaultlogging.jwater.co.za
- Call Centre: 011 688 1699 / 086 0562874
- SMS: 45201
- Email: customerserviceemails@jwater.co.za or fault@jwater.co.za
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Sourced: Daily Maverick
