Understanding Johannesburg's water crisis: Infrastructure failures and community impact
Image: File/ Timothy Bernard/ Independent Newspapers
Johannesburg, a sprawling metropolis that is home to over 5.5 million people, is grappling with severe water shortages that are affecting residents from all walks of life.
The situation has been exacerbated by a combination of failing infrastructure, ongoing maintenance issues, and the dire realities of climate change.
According to a 2025 report by Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, the city's water infrastructure is under immense pressure and fails to meet the growing demand. Frequent leaks, an ageing system, and the expansion of residential areas without corresponding upgrades in infrastructure are at the heart of the problem. Currently, Johannesburg is dealing with an estimated 2,300 burst water pipes, which only serves to intensify the crisis.
These are the affected areas.
Image: Rand Water
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad Loading
In a recent maintenance alert, Johannesburg Water announced that Rand Water's maintenance activities would significantly reduce water supply in various parts of the city, notably affecting areas such as Steyn City, Diepsloot, Carlswald, and Kaalfontein from 15 to 18 July 2025.
This planned maintenance comes at a time when the City of Tshwane is also facing its own battles with water shortages due to reservoir maintenance, forcing residents to rely on roaming water tankers for their daily needs.
Climate change further complicates South Africa's water crisis. As noted by NuWater, changing rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and increased evaporation rates significantly contribute to the nation's water scarcity.
The Department of Water and Sanitation has estimated that repairing and upgrading the nation's beleaguered infrastructure will cost an astounding R90 billion annually over the next decade.
The importance of water sources from the Limpopo, Inkomati, Pongola, and Orange River, as well as the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, cannot be overstated, as they currently support about 70% of South Africa's gross domestic product.
Expert insights
Ferrial Adam, a water specialist who spoke exclusively to IOL, expressed concern about South Africa's management of its water resources.
"South Africa is a water scarce country, geographically we have half the average rainfall that is experienced in most parts of the world, but given that, but given this little water, we are still mismanaging it, we are polluting it, we are allowing it to be wasted."
Adam emphasised the necessity of a shared sense of responsibility between government and citizens, alongside a compelling call for increased budget allocations to address these pressing challenges.
Supporting the statement, Prof. Anja du Plessis, an Associate Professor and water management expert at Unisa, noted the alarming trends indicating an increase in water stress.
"South Africa is a water scarce country, with trends showing an increase in water stress due to a multitude of factors such as increased water demands outstripping available supply, continued water pollution and increased climate variability."
Du Plessis added that the unreliable water supply and the longer outages across the Gauteng metros are due to neglected municipal infrastructure. A stark illustration of this was the Vaal Dam, which may be sitting above 100% capacity, yet many areas still experience rampant water outages primarily linked to frequent pipe bursts and demand that exceeds available supply.
Water springing from a burst pipe at Cnr Bertha and Stiemens Streets in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. 16 July 2025
Image: Koketso Phasha/ IOL
Residents' experiences
IOL spoke to South Africans to get their thoughts on the water scarcity
Itumeleng Tlhabane, 27, from Pretoria said: "It is quite frustrating, because some of us live in rented rooms, we don't have large water storage capacity and the trucks often come when we are at work, leaving us with just enough water to cook, bath and do the dishes, none for laundry."
Tshapang Malesela, 22, from Schoonoord in Limpopo said: I don't recall the last time I saw a running tap, the taps in our village last ran when I was very young, we have since been relying on those who have boreholes to supply us with water at various costs, and the water is often very salty because we don't have money to get the cleaning chemicals.
Residents can log water related call to Johannesburg Water using fault@jwater.co.za
IOL News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
12 minutes ago
- IOL News
Water Woes Deepen as South Africa Prepares to Host G20
Across Gauteng, the picture is just as grim. Multiple municipalities are under pressure from aging infrastructure, erratic water pressure, and reservoirs running dry. Image: Tumi Pakkies / Independent Newspapers As the world's economic leaders prepare to descend on South Africa for the G20 Summit, the country's deepening water crisis threatens to overshadow its moment in the global spotlight. Across Gauteng, water supply issues are intensifying, and in places like Hammanskraal, desperation has reached a boiling point. On Wednesday, angry Hammanskraal residents gathered outside the local water purification plant in protest. Their message was clear: fix the water crisis or face a community that refuses to stay silent. They demanded an audience with either the Mayor of Tshwane or the MMC for utility services. Neither official made an appearance, further fuelling frustrations. This protest follows years of water shortages, contamination scares, and what residents say is an unbearable reliance on water tankers and makeshift boreholes. Some have now gone as far as to say that even contaminated tap water would be better than their current situation, where the only option is often unregulated water from unsafe sources. The City of Tshwane has acknowledged the crisis, citing a breakdown in infrastructure and a contaminated water system as the root causes. Officials were on the ground this week attempting to address resident concerns. But many believe these are temporary measures that fail to deal with the long-term problem: a lack of sustainable and safe water supply. Across Gauteng, the picture is just as grim. Multiple municipalities are under pressure from ageing infrastructure, erratic water pressure, and reservoirs running dry. In Johannesburg, Rand Water has had to implement restrictions due to high demand and low reserves. Areas like Soweto, Roodepoort, and the West Rand are experiencing intermittent supply, with residents often going days without running water. Taps are running dry in parts of Ekurhuleni and the Vaal as well. The situation in Sedibeng is especially concerning, where water contamination has left thousands dependent on costly water tanks and filtered supplies. Even Pretoria East, once known for its stable infrastructure, has recently seen unscheduled outages and supply reductions. The Department of Water and Sanitation has repeatedly promised reforms and funding for infrastructure renewal, but progress has been slow. Meanwhile, climate change, urban population growth, and poor maintenance have combined to worsen the crisis. As South Africa welcomes global dignitaries and economic powerhouses for the G20, the contrast between international prestige and domestic neglect is becoming stark. Experts say the country risks embarrassment if the current water crisis is not urgently addressed. Images of parched communities relying on water trucks while world leaders sip bottled water in air-conditioned conference centres could damage South Africa's global reputation. 'There is no dignity in queuing for water every day,' said Sarah Moeketsi, a Hammanskraal resident who attended Wednesday's protest. 'We are tired of empty promises. If the G20 delegates were coming to my house, maybe they would finally fix this.' Civil society groups are now warning of possible nationwide protests if no permanent solutions are found. Activists are calling for a transparent action plan with realistic timelines and community consultation. Many believe this is the only way to restore faith in local governance. As South Africa takes centre stage at the G20, the pressure is not just on its political leadership to impress foreign investors and heads of state. The pressure is also on to prove that the government can deliver the most basic of human rights to its people — clean, safe, and reliable water. For now, the people of Hammanskraal and other affected areas remain in limbo, hoping that their cries for help are heard not just by the world, but by those elected to serve them.
IOL News
6 hours ago
- IOL News
Urgent action needed as Ga-Rankuwa parents protest unsafe school on wetland
Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Matome Chiloane, visits Bachana Mokwena Primary School, which is built on a wetland in Ga-Rankuwa. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers A group of parents in Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria, staged a protest outside the YMCA centre, where Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, was launching the 2026 online admissions system, to express their concerns about the construction of a local school on a wetland. The parents, from Bachana Mokwena Primary School, have kept their children home from school since it reopened for the second term on Tuesday due to the unsafe conditions. The classrooms for Grade R and Foundation Phase, which accommodate around 400 learners, are surrounded by underground water, sparking fears that the buildings could collapse at any moment. Chiloane has just kicked off the application process for parents and guardians seeking to enrol their children in Grade 1 and Grade 8 for the 2026 academic year, when the group of parents arrived at the centre and began protesting. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Protesters demanded that Chiloane come out to address their concerns about the school's safety. Chiloane assured the parents that he would visit the school to assess the wetland situation and then address their grievances afterwards. According to Agnes Mashibymi, the school governing body chairperson, children in Grade R and Foundation Phase cannot play outside due to the excessive water surrounding their classrooms. "Parents are anxious, fearing the school buildings could collapse at any moment, and worried that the unhealthy environment could lead to children falling ill," she said. A group of parents in Ga-Rankuwa staged a protest over concerns about the safety of Bachana Mokwena Primary School built on a wetland. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers Mashibymi claimed that parents have approached various departments to voice their concerns about the school's unsafe environment, but their pleas for assistance have been met with indifference. "We were at the Department of Education in Johannesburg yesterday, and the HOD told us that this matter has not reached his office. We decided to take advantage of the MEC's visit to confront him about our issues," she said. Moses Makhubela, one of the parents, lamented that despite escalating the issue to the relevant authorities since 2021, no one appears to be taking it seriously. "It's like they are not taking the lives of our children seriously. I am worried about my child's education, but I can't replace my child if he gets injured at school," he said. After assessing the situation at the school, Chiloane noted that the presence of water is causing the classrooms to deteriorate rapidly. He announced that the department will cordon off the affected classroom area and deploy mobile classrooms to accommodate learners starting next week. Grades 4 and 7 learners have been instructed to report to school on Friday. Chiloane also cautioned parents against closing schools, saying that doing so is against the law. He said the department will send a hydro-geologist to the school next week to assess the situation. Local councillor Violet Phalwane said the core issue is the underground water, and she had previously escalated the matter to the City of Tshwane, which promised to send engineers to the school. "Unfortunately, the learners can't come to school because it is unsafe for them to attend school. My problem is that the problem has affected other learners from other grades," she said.
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Sea View Cemetery: A community's struggle for dignity and housing
Living side-by-side with gravestones is a way of life for residents of the Sea View settlement in Durban Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo/Independent Newspapers LIVING in shacks atop gravesites is the lot of a desperate community of 400 people inhabiting the Sea View Cemetery on Coedmore Road in Durban. Their plight caught the attention of the KwaZulu-Natal Human Settlements Department that is attempting to have them relocated to formal houses and restore respect for the deceased. Spokesperson for the department, Ndabezinhle Sibiya, said the Sea View situation underscored the desperation of some communities that resorted to inhabiting sacred spaces. Those who call the cemetery home have built their dwellings in all the available space. In some instances tombstones are found in some shacks. It's common practice for inhabitants to walk on graves, children play on them, and some even sleep on them. 'The MEC, Siboniso Duma, has stated that it is incorrect for people to live on top of graves,' Sibiya revealed, emphasising the significant cultural implications of such a situation. "We must remember the spirit of ubuntu, as cemeteries are regarded as sacred spaces." Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ This sentiment reflects a broader call for dignity and respect towards those who have passed away, while also confronting the pressing housing crisis faced by many South Africans. The emergence of shacks around the Sea View Cemetery, particularly in the adjacent Kennville informal settlement, has prompted urgent action from the government. Sibiya acknowledged the acute land scarcity problem that complicates these efforts, yet affirmed that the integrity of cemeteries cannot be compromised. In pursuit of sustainable housing solutions, local traditional leaders in Inanda have offered land for new construction, although critical funding of approximately R1.7 billion is needed for essential bulk infrastructure improvements. Construction is already underway on a separate site in Cornubia, with an investment of R500 million allocated for housing development. Over the weekend, MEC Duma directed their Head of Department, Max Mbili, along with the eThekwini Municipality, to expedite the profiling of families residing in Sea View Cemetery, so that they could be relocated to the Cornubia site. Duma was mindful that since the dawn of democracy in 1994, efforts to provide housing for the needy people of Sea View had evolved significantly but with many complex challenges. 'After 1994, the government prioritised housing for those living in the area since 1981,' Duma said. He noted there were past initiatives led by prominent figures in the early 2000s, aimed at relocating families from this community to improved housing in Welbedacht, Chatsworth. However, the MEC lamented the unfortunate reality that some families returned to the vicinity, perpetuating new informal settlements. Sibiya said the current conditions at Sea View Cemetery were troubling, with families crammed into makeshift shacks. 'It's a troubling situation that we are working to address,' he said. Sea View resident Doris Zeka, 50, said she moved from Kokstad to th e cemetery about 30 years ago. She said many residents were from the Eastern Cape. Zeka acknowledged that living in a cemetery was 'not okay', but they were desperate. 'We don't have the means to leave and rent elsewhere,' Zeka said. She said her informal structure is built around a grave, and they placed a table on it. 'We want to leave because of the heat. It's too hot here,' Zeka said. On service delivery, she said they have illegally connected electricity, which officials disconnected at times. Zeka said the last time officials visited the area was last year, and they took photographs. Another resident, Buyelwa Ncedo from Tsolo, Eastern Cape, said she arrived in the area in 1995. She said that relatives of those buried in the graves they built on top of, realised it was a hopeless situation. 'They got tired because they realised there was no way they could see their relatives' graves,' Ncedo said. She said they had never attacked them or taken any action against them because they realised the place had become their home. The eThekwini Municipality's spokesperson, Gugu Sisilana, clarified that the Sea View Cemetery did not fall under municipal jurisdiction; the urgency of the situation has prompted outreach efforts. 'It is important to clarify that the Seaview Cemetery is not owned or managed by eThekwini Municipality,' said Sisilana. DAILY NEWS
