Concerns Mount as Joburg Residents Enter Second Week Without Water: ‘Don’t Spin It

Desperate residents of Joburg are facing a second week without water, a problem triggered by a lightning strike at the Eikenhof pump station more than a week ago. City Power, Joburg’s power utility, reported that a lightning strike hit its transformer, impacting the power supply to Rand Water’s Eikenhof system, which serves areas including greater Soweto, Roodepoort, Hursthill, Crosby, and Brixton in Joburg, according to IOL.

WaterCAN, a leading civil society organisation dedicated to ensuring access to clean and safe water, has expressed alarm at the authorities in Joburg, who are struggling to resolve the dire water supply situation. In an interview with IOL, Dr Ferrial Adam, executive manager of WaterCAN, emphasised the need for transparency and direct communication from the City of Joburg regarding water supply issues.

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Adam highlighted concerns about the reliance on water tanks and urged ongoing engagement with the community rather than reactive responses after disasters occur. WaterCAN plans to host a crucial civil society meeting on Friday to address the Joburg water crisis and demand accountability from water authorities.

Meanwhile, Johannesburg Water announced some progress on systems affected by the City Power outage at Rand Water’s Eikenhof pump station. Despite marginal improvements, complete recovery is expected to take up to a week. Areas like Soweto, Brixton, Crosby, and Hursthill have seen developments, but poor pressure may still be expected in certain zones. Randburg and parts of Roodepoort remain critically low on water supply.

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Picture: Meta / Watercan

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