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IOL News
30-07-2025
- General
- IOL News
Joburg Water's communication collapse deepens city's water crisis
The lack of communication by Joburg Water means that residents are left unprepared for water outages, says the writer. Image: Bhekikhaya Mabaso / Independent Newspapers Joburg Water's failure to effectively communicate which areas are affected by water outages due to maintenance or burst pipes is leaving residents frustrated. The lack of communication means that residents are left unprepared for water outages. Not all residents can afford to buy water that is needed for the basics, like flushing the toilet, bathing, cooking, and cleaning. Despite the growing water crisis in Johannesburg, the entity remains largely silent when residents need answers the most. There is a glaring absence of timely updates, clear information, and meaningful engagement, particularly during water interruptions. This silence is not an inconvenience; it is an insult to residents who deserve transparency and accountability. Information is not filtering through to the public, and in many cases, it doesn't reach ward councillors. Ward councillors play a crucial role in keeping residents informed on service delivery issues. There seems to be a disconnect between depots on the ground and the head office. This lack of internal coordination makes bad communication even worse. 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 It is unacceptable that in a city of this size, residents are still left guessing about when water will return, why there are delays, or where to find basic relief such as water tankers. Joburg Water can learn from Rand Water on how to improve communication with residents regarding issues around water. Pressure from the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has resulted in Rand Water improving on how it communicates with residents and municipalities regarding potential water outages. The DA Gauteng demands that Joburg Water urgently overhaul its communication strategy, particularly on social media and public alerts. This way, councillors and communities will remain properly informed. A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would ensure that, through the Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Joburg Water is assisted in improving how it communicates with residents regarding maintenance that could lead to water outages, the importance of using water sparingly, and burst water pipes. Nico De Jager MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Infrastructure Development
IOL News
30-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Eskom adapts to winter demand spikes with strategic generation recovery plan
Eskom's Generation Recovery Plan is underway, aiming to restore a total of 2 450MW of generation capacity before the evening peak on Monday, 30 June 2025, in a proactive move to enhance grid reliability. Image: Bhekikhaya Mabaso/Independent Newspapers Eskom announced on Friday that its power system has demonstrated stability, effectively managing increased electricity demand as South Africa experiences a cold snap. The utility reported that while occasional system constraints arise, strategic deployment of sufficient emergency reserves helps meet peak demands during critical morning and evening hours. Eskom's Generation Recovery Plan is underway, aiming to restore a total of 2 450MW of generation capacity before the evening peak on Monday, 30 June 2025, in a proactive move to enhance grid reliability. From the week of 20 to 26 June, Eskom said planned maintenance efforts have averaged 3 789MW, marking a decline in planned outages. Concurrently, the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) fluctuated between 60% and 64%, ultimately resulting in a month-to-date average of 60.61%. However, Eskom faces challenges as the Unplanned Capability Loss Factor (UCLF) stands at 29.36% for the current financial year, reflecting a worrying increase from last year's 27.25%. The uptick in unplanned outages can be partly attributed to delays in returning units from maintenance, specifically the 800MW from Medupi Unit 4, which has not yet been brought back online. At present, unplanned outages total 15 137MW, with the 800MW from Medupi impacting the available generation capacity of 30 703MW. This figure notably excludes the 720MW from Kusile Unit 6, which, although not yet fully operational, has been supplying power to the national grid since 23 March 2025. Nevertheless, this combined generation capacity positioned Eskom well to meet Friday night's anticipated peak demand of 28 810MW. Recent statistics revealed a decline in the year-to-date load factor for open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs), which now stands at 11.37%, reflecting a slight dip from the previous week. Despite this reduction, the load factor remained strong when compared to 6.21% during the same timeframe last year. Diesel usage is projected to decrease as more units return to service from long-term repairs, thereby bolstering generation capacity. Eskom said the Winter Outlook, released on 5 May 2025, continues to stand valid, indicating that load shedding might be averted if unplanned outages remain below 13 000MW. It said should outages rise to 15 000MW, any necessitated load shedding would be limited to a maximum of 21 days over 153 days, confined to Stage 2. Key performance indicators revealed that during the week of 20 to 26 June, unplanned outages averaged 14 696MW—an increase of 2 815MW from last year and above the base case estimate of 13 000MW by 1 696MW. This escalation largely stems from the ongoing situation with Medupi Unit 4, which was initially anticipated to return to service by 30 May 2025. Meanwhile, planned maintenance for the financial year-to-date has averaged at 5 481MW, accounting for 11.67% of total generation capacity, albeit representing a slight decrease from the previous week. Year-to-date, the EAF has observed a noticeable upward trend, reaching 58.47%. However, this remains below the 61.19% recorded during the same period last year, primarily due to an increase in unplanned maintenance of 2.1%. Furthermore, Eskom's financial commitment to fuel for the OCGT fleet has risen to approximately R4.76 billion, generating 810.24GWh, in contrast to 442.65GWh from the previous year; still within the budget for the current financial year. As the utility now faces the winter months, Eskom has issued a strong reminder urging the public to refrain from illegal connections and energy theft. Such practices lead to transformer overloads and significant equipment failures, jeopardising the stability of the electricity network. Citizens are encouraged to solely purchase electricity from Eskom-accredited vendors and report any illegal activities impacting Eskom's infrastructure to the Crime Line. In the spirit of energy efficiency, Eskom urged consumers to manage their electricity consumption wisely this winter, employing tools like the Eskom Residential Calculator to track and optimise usage effectively. Eskom plans to provide another update on the situation by Friday, 4 July 2025, or earlier should any significant changes arise. BUSINESS REPORT
IOL News
11-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Eskom commits billions to a cleaner Future
Power utility Eskom is stepping up its efforts to reduce pollution, with plans to spend R15.6 billion over the next five years Image: Bhekikhaya Mabaso/Independent Newspapers Power utility Eskom is stepping up its efforts to reduce pollution, with plans to spend R15.6 billion over the next five years on projects to cut harmful emissions from its power stations. Earlier this year IOL reported that Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Dion George, granted the power utility 'limited emissions exemptions' to eight Eskom coal power plants. George has also previously criticised Eskom for "consistently failing to meet minimum emission standards and delaying crucial energy reforms", pointing out that South Africans have endured rolling blackouts, rising costs, and economic stagnation due to Eskom's inefficiencies. "The government cannot grant Eskom a blanket waiver to continue polluting without accountability," George said at the time. According to the power utility it has already invested over R3 billion in emissions reduction projects, with R15.6 billion allocated over the next five years. "To date, Eskom has invested over R3 billion in emissions reduction projects, with R15.6 billion allocated over the next five years," Eskom said. 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 ✕ "However, achieving Minimum Emission Standards (MES) compliance by 2030 will require ~R257 billion in capital investment and ~R6.3 billion in annual operating costs which will have a significant impact on Eskom and add up to ~10% to the electricity tariff," "Given the current trajectory of future non-compliance, 22GW of capacity is at risk of being shut down due to SO₂ non-compliance post-2030". Eskom also noted significant progress in reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions across its fleet. "While Medupi and Kusile are equipped with low-NOx burners. In 2019, Camden Power Station was successfully retrofitted with this technology. Additionally, Eskom has installed flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) technology at Kusile Power Station to reduce sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions and is planning to retrofit the same system at Medupi Power Station". Bheki Nxumalo, Eskom's Group Executive for Generation said the the utility was committed to meeting environmental regulations through continuous monitoring, and transparent reporting. 'We are committed to meeting environmental regulations through continuous monitoring, transparent reporting, and proactive plant upgrades,' Nxumalo said. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL Business
IOL News
11-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
'Unacceptable': R1. 4 billion spent on consultants as service delivery continues to falter for South Africans
Johannesburg residents queue for water as ongoing water shortages persist pointing to a lack of planning and service delivery issues. the The latest Auditor-General's 2023/24 report found that 59% of municipal financial statements contained material misstatements - despite more than R1.4 billion being spent on consultants. Image: Bhekikhaya Mabaso / Independent Newspapers Cogta Committee chairperson Dr Zweli Mkhize has lambasted the deepening governance and financial crises in South African municipalities. Speaking at a committee briefing, Mkhize cited widespread failures in financial management, leadership, and service delivery. He called for urgent and coordinated action across all tiers of government. Describing local government as 'under immense strain,' Mkhize referenced the Auditor-General's 2023/24 report, which found that 59% of municipal financial statements contained material misstatements - despite more than R1.4 billion being spent on consultants. 'It's unacceptable that such exorbitant spending yields so little value,' Mkhize said, noting that municipalities already employ permanent staff for this work. He revealed that 113 municipalities are operating with unfunded budgets. 'This amounts to planning for failure. It undermines infrastructure delivery, leads to poor project execution, delays, cost overruns, and often substandard workmanship,' he said. Only 16% of municipalities met basic governance standards, while 84% failed to meet the conditions of a national debt relief programme. 'This is not just an audit report. It's a mirror held up to our governance structures,' Mkhize said, blaming poor audit outcomes on political failures, lack of accountability, and a growing culture of impunity. He criticised the continued use of uncompetitive procurement practices and illegal awarding of contracts to government employees: 'The rules exist, but enforcement is failing. This must stop.' Mkhize announced that Parliament will intensify oversight, especially in the worst-performing municipalities. 'The community is no longer interested in excuses,' he said. 'We are calling for performance, consequences, and the prioritisation of quality service delivery.' Mkhize also highlighted the need for structural reform over crisis management: 'We cannot afford to normalise failure. We must shift from analysis to action, from recognition to consequence.' Mkhize noted that the Portfolio Committee on Cogta will continue to lead efforts to restore the credibility, capability and constitutional purpose of local government through firm oversight and unwavering commitment to service delivery. In a statement and response to the 2023/2024 audit outcomes, the South African Local Government Association (Salga) welcomed the Auditor-General's report and praised municipalities showing improvement. Salga spokesperson Tebogo Mosala said: 'The increase in clean audits from 34 in 2022/23 to 41 in 2023/24 is commendable and reflects the commitment of municipal leadership to uphold financial discipline.' SALGA noted that 55% of municipalities received unqualified or clean audits, accounting for over R378 billion (66%) of the local government budget, an indication that a majority of public funds are handled with 'a degree of accountability.' However, Mosala was clear that serious problems remain: 'Salga remains deeply concerned that 45% of municipalities received audit outcomes that fall below the standard. The non-submission of financial statements and recurrence of fruitless and wasteful expenditure must be decisively addressed.' Salga echoed the call for stronger leadership, highlighting that improved audit outcomes correlate with capable and ethical appointments in key roles like municipal managers and CFOs. Mosala added that municipalities must also address the R405 billion owed to them by consumers, including other government departments, which severely compromises their financial health. Salga also stressed the need to reform the fiscal framework, pointing out the mismatch between municipalities' responsibilities and the only 9.1% of nationally raised revenue they receive. Adding to the concern, Matthew George, ActionSA's Parliamentary Head of Media, criticised the chronic over-reliance on external consultants: 'ActionSA has consistently expressed our opposition to the widespread use of external consultants to perform functions that should be carried out by professionals employed within municipalities. The continued reliance on such consultants is a damning indictment of the failure to build and retain internal capacity in local government.' George argued that the solution is already available through existing frameworks: 'The solution is clear: the employment of skilled financial administrators, as already provided for in existing frameworks, and an end to the appointment of unqualified and unscrupulous individuals. These appointments often serve only to obscure financial reporting and shield financial mismanagement from proper scrutiny.' While supporting legislative and oversight reform, George emphasised enforcement as the real missing link: 'While ActionSA recognises the potential value of legislative or oversight reforms, we believe that the greater issue lies in the lack of enforcement of existing mechanisms, which for too long have been treated as suggestive rather than obligatory.' He added that ActionSA is committed to pursuing legislation on consequence management, along with further measures aimed at professionalising and depoliticising the public service. Dr Harlan Cloete, Research Fellow at the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies at the University of the Free State, provided deeper insight into the systemic nature of the crisis. On municipalities' reliance on consultants, Cloete said:'There's a genuine crisis of confidence within municipalities. You have people in positions who are not necessarily qualified. Political instability spills over into the administration, creating more dysfunction. There's a lack of both capacity and capability.' He noted that despite the Skills Development Act being in place since 1998, municipalities have failed to cultivate talent from within. 'That we cannot grow our own is really an indictment on the system.' On building internal capacity, Cloete pointed to integrated development plans (IDPs) and workplace skills plans as existing tools. 'You have to start with what you have. I've seen people move from interns to CFOs through structured internal development. The frameworks are there,the problem is execution.' Cloete stressed that training alone is not enough:'Training is often seen as the beginning and end. But what's needed is coaching, mentoring, and long-term institutional development.' He warned of the consequences for sustainability and credibility:'You cannot outsource responsibility. It's easy to bring in consultants to solve short-term problems, but the Skills Development Act calls for a long-term view. Leadership matters. Where there's a committed CFO, municipal manager, or mayor, things can turn around.' Cloete also referenced his recent research into the Municipal Staff Regulations of 2021. 'We conducted 240 interviews across 32 municipalities. These regulations aim to professionalise local government. But many municipalities aren't listening or acting. There's little consequence management.' He noted the review of the White Paper on Local Government, but added: 'It identifies nine key challenges. What's missing is the tenth: the institutional ability to manage the development of people. We have good people, but they don't get the opportunities. This lack is what perpetuates the dependency on consultants. IOL Politics
IOL News
01-06-2025
- General
- IOL News
Johannesburg's water woes and the quest for dignity
Despite Johannesburg being one of South Africa's wealthiest metropolitan municipalities, with a budget of R80.3 billion in the previous financial year, the water crisis persists, says the writer. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers South Africa's economic engine, Johannesburg - water, the most basic necessity, is becoming a luxury where many residents across the city have woken up to dry taps, empty buckets, and a growing sense of despair. The water crisis gripping the City of Johannesburg is not just an infrastructure failure—it is a humanitarian emergency threatening the dignity, health, and livelihood of millions. The crisis did not begin overnight. Years of underinvestment in infrastructure, rapid urbanisation, climate change, and governance failures have culminated in a perfect storm. 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 Reservoirs are running dry, pipes are bursting from neglect, and power failures at pumping stations have crippled already fragile water supply systems. In areas such as Brixton, Hursthill, and parts of Soweto and the south, residents have faced water outages stretching over several days or even weeks, forcing them to queue for water from roaming tankers or rely on unsafe alternative sources. Joburg Water has called on residents to use water sparingly as it is experiencing severe pressure at the reservoirs and towers due to increased water consumption. Image: Bhekikhaya Mabaso / Independent Newspapers For many, the turning point came in early 2024, when Rand Water—the bulk supplier for Gauteng—warned that demand had begun to consistently outstrip supply. With reservoirs unable to recover due to excessive consumption and frequent load shedding hampering pump stations, the system buckled under pressure. The city was forced to impose rolling water outages in an attempt to manage dwindling resources. Joburg Mayor, Dada Morero, has stepped up to confront the growing crisis head-on. In recent statements, Morero acknowledged that the city's infrastructure is operating beyond capacity and must undergo an urgent overhaul. He has outlined a multi-phase recovery plan, including the replacement of aging water mains, better pressure management systems, and the use of smart meters to reduce water losses. The city is also ramping up public education campaigns to encourage residents to reduce consumption, emphasising that the crisis is a shared burden. In 2023, Rand Water had pledged to invest R28 billion over the next decade to upgrade its infrastructure and build new reservoirs to increase supply. The water utility emphasised the need for a shift in consumption behaviour, pointing out that Gauteng residents consume, on average, 300 liters of water per person per day—nearly double the global average. Rand Water is working closely with municipalities to implement technical upgrades and manage water distribution more equitably. Furthermore, President Cyril Ramaphosa has also weighed in, calling the situation 'deeply concerning' and promising national support. During a visit to the city council earlier this year, Ramaphosa affirmed that water security is now a priority for the national government. Ramaphosa announced that he would introduce the presidential task team to help the city tackle its problems, especially now that the G20 summit will be held in Johannesburg. 'We are proposing the establishment of the presidential Johannesburg working group. What this means is that the situation here in Johannesburg has led you to invite the president into your council chamber. I am now here. 'We are going to work together to rebuild Johannesburg and take it back to its glory days,' Ramaphosa said. Last week, The 38-kilometre tunnel, Ash River which runs from Lesotho to South Africa via the Free State, was officially opened by the Department of Water led by Minister Pemmy Majodina and Sanitation, Free State Government and other state holders. This was the Lesotho Highlands Water Project which was created to provide water in the country to curb the water shortage. WARNING: Video contains swearing at the end Speaking to IOL, ActionSA said it was gravely concerned about the current man-made water crisis that has plagued the city. The party has been vocal about the water crisis in the city since they joined the council. 'The R27 billion infrastructure backlog has been on our radar for a very long time. The water crisis is, however, as a result of years of neglect,' chairperson of EISD, Vhengani Munyayi said. Munyayi stated that the issue was not just poor coordination among key stakeholders, but a mere lack of oversight and lack of appetite to address this issue. 'From the explanation we get from Rand Water, it is evident that they supply enough water to Joburg Water, however, aging dams that lose water, pipes that lose water coupled with illegal water connection is a challenge,' he said.
