Latest news with #JoburgWater
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Citizen
Water outages continue in Gauteng due to maintenance
Joburg Water also warned residents who receive water from the Deep South system that high demand was constraining the system. It is unclear when water will return to the thousands of households across Gauteng affected by Rand Water's 107-hour planned maintenance. Parts of the City of Tshwane, City of Ekurhuleni, Midvaal Local Municipality, Emfuleni Local Municipality, Govan Mbeki Local Municipality, Victor Khanye Local Municipality, and Thembisile Hani Local Municipality were without water by day two of the four-day planned maintenance yesterday. Rand Water spokesperson Makenosi Maroo said Rand Water reported that progress on the B16 project had been steady throughout the night and remained on track for completion as scheduled. 'Necessary interventions' Joburg Water warned residents that it would put in necessary interventions, including closing outlets. An alternate water supply had been arranged to assist with the recovery and restoration process. 'While many of the reservoirs had fair supply and capacity with poor pressure due to high demand, the Doornkop Reservoir was constrained and the outlet was closed due to poor pressure and no water.' ALSO READ: Tshwane's water warning to residents Joburg Water also warned residents who receive water from the Deep South system that high demand was constraining the system. 'The system improved and supplied throughout the day, but is declining. Joburg Water is putting in the necessary intervention, including closing outlets overnight to build capacity.' Joburg Water also indicated that the Orange Farm Reservoir, Ennerdale Reservoir, Lawley Reservoir, Lenasia Hospital Hill and Lenasia High Level were at fair capacity. WaterCAN's Ferrial Adam said: 'The Alexander reservoir that feeds Kensington and Bruma was not pumping at the right pressure and they had to sort it out, which meant that area didn't have water. 'There were other low reservoirs linked to the Rand Water pipe burst that happened about two to three weeks ago,' Adam said. ALSO READ: 21-day water outage in Joburg set to begin Friday In Tshwane in most areas expected to be affected, taps ran dry with residents taking to social media for updates on where to collect water. Equestria, Faerie Glen, Eastlynn and Waterkloof reported dry taps, while residents in Moreleta had water. Water outage warning City of Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba last week warned residents of Region 6 and some parts of Regions 2 and 3 to urgently reduce water consumption as the levels of the reservoirs supplying these areas were dropping significantly. ALSO READ: Municipal water crisis 'nothing to do with bulk water supply', says minster at LHWP reopening Bokaba said continued high consumption was likely to put consumers at risk of having no water from today until the work was completed. 'The high volume of consumption is also putting the city's distribution network and Rand Water systems under severe pressure,' he said. Bokaba reminded customers that the water utility would also isolate the Klipriviersberg Master Reservoir from the Palmiet system for 10 hours from tomorrow. 'This is to allow the water utility's technicians to clean and conduct an inspection on the reservoir. During this period, pumping will be reduced to 67% at the Palmiet station. 'The City of Tshwane apologises for the inconvenience as a result of the abovementioned maintenance work,' Bokaba added. NOW READ: Gauteng residents warned to brace for major water disruptions this week
IOL News
4 days ago
- 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. 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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.
The Citizen
16-05-2025
- Climate
- The Citizen
These Joburg areas will experience water outages heading into the weekend
An extensive water outage will affect multiple neighbourhoods in Region B started early Friday morning. Residents in several Johannesburg neighborhoods will experience water outages over the coming days as Joburg Water conducts both emergency and scheduled maintenance work on water infrastructure. An extensive water outage will affect multiple neighbourhoods in Region B started early Friday morning, according to Joburg Water. The utility said the interruption, which began at 6 am on 16 May and continues until midnight on 17 May, is necessary for critical infrastructure repairs. In their daily water supply update, Joburg Water said the reason for the interruption is the repair of a 375mm steel pipe, which requires a complete shutdown of the water supply to the affected areas. The outage will impact the following areas: All streets in Vandia Grove, Beverley Gardens, Bryanston, Parts of Ferndale, Osummit, Bryanbrink, And sections of Kensington B. Joburg Water indicated that alternative water supply arrangements are being finalised, with further details to be communicated directly to the affected residents. The utility said these repairs are essential for improved service delivery. ALSO READ: Morero's vision to make Johannesburg a world-class African city Scheduled maintenance in Region C next week In a separate planned maintenance operation, residents of Olievenpoort extension 40 will experience a shorter water outage on Thursday, 22 May. The interruption will specifically affect properties along Northgate Street and Valley Road. The scheduled maintenance will take place between 8am and 4pm, and involves connecting a new 150mm pipeline to the existing 150mm mainline. No alternative water supply will be provided during this planned outage. Joburg Water advises all affected residents to store sufficient water for use during these interruptions and to follow updates through official channels for any changes to the maintenance schedules. Residents seeking additional information can contact Joburg Water's customer service centre or visit their official website for the latest updates on these and other planned service interruptions. NOW READ: State of the City: Joburg thirsts for solutions as Morero takes the stage
The Citizen
13-05-2025
- The Citizen
Johannesburg Water condemns attacks on staff and vandalism of infrastructure
A Johannesburg Water truck was torched and workers robbed in Lenasia South as threats against staff during duty escalate. A branded Joburg Water van during a site visit to key reservoirs at Eikenhof Reservoir on February 14, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Fani Mahuntsi) Johannesburg Water is concerned about the rising number of attacks on its staff members while they are on official duty and acts of vandalism. The water and sanitation utility has strongly condemned all violent attacks against its officials and acts of vandalism targeting the City of Johannesburg's infrastructure. These violent actions, which put officials' lives in danger and prevent them from carrying out their duties, include robbing, threatening, and intimidating officials, as well as hijacking official Johannesburg Water vehicles. Community members torch jetting truck In one incident, protesting community members in Lenasia South set a Johannesburg Water jetting truck used to unblock sewer lines and prevent spillages on fire. ALSO READ: Cable theft and vandalism suspected to be behind M1 fire The community members also allegedly robbed the officials of their personal belongings, including cellphones and wallets. 'These kinds of acts are not only criminal behaviour which places officials' lives at risk and is grounds for legal consequences. This also severely impedes service delivery and slows it down significantly,' the utility said in a statement on Tuesday. 'Preserve and protect' infrastructure Johannesburg Water noted that such incidents occur frequently. It warned that its officials and those from the City of Johannesburg will promptly call on law enforcement to act against anyone who breaks the law. 'Johannesburg Water would like to remind communities that the preservation and protection of the city's assets, infrastructure and its employees and staff provide much-needed value to the residents of the city, and therefore we all need to join the campaign to protect our resources by reporting illegal and criminal activities that undermine these resources,' the utility said. NOW READ: Here's when City Power won't pay up or fix your outage
The Citizen
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Fast-crumbling Knysna falling behind neighbours George, Plett
What's happening here is no different to what's happening across small-town SA. There's a lot of wealth in these parts – people with generational wealth retire here – and that has helped prop up the rates base. Picture: Supplied Joburgers would feel right at home in Knysna. Main roads are crumbling and littered with potholes (even the N2 which runs through the town), although to be fair, these aren't quite the craters we're used to in Gauteng. Burst water pipes are dug up, repaired, and craters simply left. Joburg Water would be proud! Signs at Airbnbs and hotels across the city warn guests about 'irregular' water pressure due to 'water infrastructure upgrades'. Yeah, right. Refuse collection under the ANC coalition-led council is erratic, with regular backlogs. The centre of town is grimy and unkempt, albeit litter-free. At least the mountain of trash mere blocks from the municipal offices is gone. One of the main arteries in the town, George Rex Drive – which heads out towards the industrial area, Life Healthcare private hospital, the world-famous Heads, and Pezula Golf Estate – is quite literally crumbling into the estuary. ALSO READ: These are the 5 worst municipalities currently under administration Instead of capital investment into traffic lights at the intersection of the N2, which was desperately needed decades ago, vehicles from all directions are stuck in perpetual traffic all day long. At peak hours, the city places a traffic officer to direct traffic at the intersection. Over holiday periods they are stationed there all day long. It's easier to pay salaries than it is to trench some cables and erect four poles … What's happening in Knysna is no different to what's happening across small-town South Africa. In fact, the remarkable thing is that it's taken this long for this small town to start crumbling. ALSO READ: 149 municipalities are R1.4 billion in arrears on their pension fund payments Here's how it goes … It's the same pattern. A shrinking ratepayer base, exploding population, poor (or mostly zero) maintenance of infrastructure, declining capital investment and corruption. Add to this a growing number of households that are self-providing (particularly electricity, via solar), or, more correctly, being forced to. Those with the means, and in this region there are tons, are shifting off grid. Boreholes and bottled drinking water (practically every supermarket in Knysna has a refill station) mean residents don't need to (read: can't) rely on municipal supply of water either. Knysna has perhaps been more insulated than most. There is a lot of wealth in these parts, and that has helped prop up the rates base. Thesen Island, Simola and Pezula properties aren't cheap. People with generational wealth retire here. Even today, the potholed streets are filled with the latest electric Volvo, Mercedes and Jaguar SUVs. ALSO READ: Mashatile: How national government is aiming to reform local municipalities Connectivity to Joburg and Cape Town has been helped by the George Airport and general growth in the Garden Route region. George is booming, and so too is Plettenberg Bay. Both are spotless, in stark contrast to Knysna, and even the neat Wilderness village outside of George is noticeably busier than it ought to be, with both tourists and construction. There are clear infrastructure upgrades taking place – the only spot in this area that boasts freshly painted road markings, including perfect stop streets. That's the real danger for Knysna. It is bordered by two DA-led municipalities, George and Bitou (Plett), which are delivering services. George is being bolstered, too, by the explosion in lifestyle estates being developed on its outskirts. ALSO READ: Distressed municipalities spent less than 4% of budget on maintenance — Cogta Property and prospects Capital is fleeting. It will stay; until it leaves. You'd be very brave to invest in fixed property in Knysna Central today, even as Cape-based developers have begun taking advantage of what could euphemistically be called 'depressed' property prices. (You'd be braver still to invest on Leisure Isle, which may or may not be accessible via a causeway, or indeed half under water, in a decade's time.) In reality, a purchase in George would be far more sensible. Still, Knysna is nowhere near too far gone to be turned around (it is not nearly as bad, nor as complicated as Joburg, for example). Private sector investment continues. An enormous brand-new flagship Food Lovers Market has just opened on the water's edge and developers are building a new convenience centre near the mall to be anchored by a new Checkers FreshX format store. A string of new car dealerships for VW, Nissan, Suzuki, Haval and GWM have opened a stone's throw away from Food Lovers. Knysna remains a pretty big town (it's about a third larger than Plett). ALSO READ: Retired experts could help fix failing municipalities Plus, local government elections loom in 2026 and this seems to have focused the minds of the current administration, on paper at least. In the next financial year, it plans to spend R6 million to buy three compactor trucks to try and fix its refuse removal crisis permanently. (For now, as is the case in most ANC-led administrations, a contractor – no doubt 'connected' – has been appointed to fill the gap. At least the council knows what needs to be fixed (although a 12-year-old would be able to prioritise George Rex Drive). Repairs to this roughly 4km stretch of road will cost a total of R23.5 million over the next three years (perhaps even more, beyond this timeframe). It has allocated a paltry R500 000 in the 2025/26 financial year, and this climbs in later years. An upgrade of Howard Street, which branches off George Rex and leads to the private hospital and the golf club, has R2 million allocated over the medium term. ALSO READ: Hlabisa questions abilities of local government leaders as AG report shows no improvement in municipalities In total, next year's entire capital budget is R160 million. Bulk purchases, mainly electricity, will total around R400 million. But it will spend R365 million on salaries, out of total expenditure of R1.2 billion. There aren't exactly dozens of visible work teams on the road repairing the damage across town. (Motorists have become completely accustomed to dodging collapsing manhole covers, even though each will take a day – max – to be lifted.) The microcosm of Knysna perfectly illustrates the problem across all spheres of government currently, where wages eat up more and more of the budget and tax and ratepayers get less and less for each rand … This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.
