Latest news with #RandWater
The South African
5 days ago
- Business
- The South African
14-hour water interruptions to affect these Johannesburg areas
Rand Water will carry out a crucial 14-hour meter replacement operation on Wednesday, 30 July, starting at 6:00 and ending at 20:00. The project aims to improve water supply efficiency. It involves replacing magnetic flow and mechanical meters connected to Johannesburg Water systems. Residents in Abbatoir and Market areas may experience low pressure or no water during this period. Johannesburg Water advised that, once maintenance is completed, it could take up to three days for the water supply to normalise fully. The purpose of this upgrade is to ensure long-term benefits for residents. 'The replacement of these meters is part of our ongoing commitment to improve service delivery and ensure continuity of water supply,' said Johannesburg Water. Furthermore, the scheduled maintenance is expected to benefit customers by enhancing meter accuracy and reducing long-term service disruptions. Affected residents are encouraged to store water before the interruption and use it sparingly during recovery. Johannesburg Water has taken over all billing responsibilities for water and sanitation services from the City of Johannesburg as of 1 July to strengthen operations. This transition is expected to streamline customer service and improve billing accuracy. 'This strategic transition marks a turning point in our continuous commitment to improve service delivery, enhance operational efficiency, and improving accuracy in billing, therefore ensuring greater accountability in our customer billing processes,' said Johannesburg Water Managing Director Ntshaveni Mukwevho. Also, the shift was carefully planned to ensure minimal disruption, and officials believe the change will lead to faster query resolutions and more innovation in addressing customer needs. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
5 days ago
- General
- 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.
The Citizen
19-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
DA lodges human rights complaint over Merafong water crisis
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Merafong has officially submitted a formal complaint to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), calling for urgent intervention in the municipality's persistent water crisis. This follows continued service failures that have left many residents — particularly in high-lying areas of Carletonville, Fochville, and surrounding suburbs — without a stable water supply for weeks and, in some cases, even months. By this week, areas such as Carletonville Extension 8 were again without water. 'Paul Kruger Street also does not have water. This situation is making me really angry as it has been going on for five weeks,' a resident known only as Lea expressed on social media on July 11. According to the DA's Merafong constituency head, Ina Cilliers, the formal SAHRC submission includes 560 affidavits from affected residents, detailed survey data, and other documentation showing the sustained violation of residents' constitutional rights. 'For months, the high-lying areas have been without a stable water supply, with some taps being dry for over three months. This is a clear violation of our residents' human rights,' said Cilliers. The DA cites Section 27 of the Constitution, which guarantees access to sufficient water as a basic human right. Alarmingly, some of the most severely affected areas are also those with the highest payment compliance — often exceeding 90%. The party attributes the ongoing crisis to a combination of infrastructure failure by the Merafong City Local Municipality and deliberate water throttling by Rand Water. As a result, while some wards have relatively stable supply, others are subjected to long-term dry taps. Adding to residents' frustration is the complete lack of transparency. Neither Rand Water nor the municipality has provided clarity on water flow data or the decision-making process behind water distribution. 'Residents are left in the dark, both literally and figuratively,' Cilliers noted. In response, the DA is escalating the issue at multiple levels: In Parliament, DA MPs are putting direct pressure on Rand Water for answers. In the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, the party continues to hold the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) accountable. A resident-led survey is ongoing to map outage patterns across affected areas. A petition has also been submitted to National Treasury, urging urgent intervention into Merafong's debt, which may be contributing to the throttled supply. 'The DA Gauteng has made it clear that this is not a partisan issue but one about dignity, life, and basic human rights,' Cilliers concluded. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
19-07-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
ARVs not found in Gauteng drinking water, says Rand Water
'Rand Water has not detected ARVs at the point of abstraction in the Vaal Dam and not in any of its treated final drinking water.' Rand Water says its water is safe to drink. Picture: iStock Rand Water has allayed fears of ARV-contaminated drinking water in Gauteng. Recent research by North-West University found a significant concentration of ARVs in SA water sources. A high number of South Africans are currently on HIV/ Aids treatment, leading to traces of the chemical entering sewage systems. Water and sanitation department spokesperson Wisane Mavasa said this week that traces of ARVs were found downstream of wastewater treatment plants. 'This means that the municipal wastewater treatment works are not removing them, because most existing wastewater treatment works have not been designed to remove CECs. Low concentrations of ARVs were found in some of the drinking water samples. 'There is a possibility that high concentrations of ARVs in sewage or municipal wastewater might reduce the effectiveness of the wastewater treatment works in removing bacteria from the wastewater. Further research is required in this regard,' Mavasa said. Rand Water on ARVs Rand Water said it had been monitoring ARVs since 2015 and confirmed that it had located the chemicals in natural waters located downstream of wastewater treatment plants. However, the utility takes water from the Vaal Dam, which is upstream of these plants. 'Rand Water has not detected ARVs at the point of abstraction in the Vaal Dam and not in any of its treated final drinking water.' It assured the public that its drinking water is safe for human consumption and complies with water standards. 'Rand Water remains committed to ongoing research around emerging contaminants in source waters. This is achieved through active participation in national research projects and funding of university chairs in water utilisation, organic chemistry, and public health.' ALSO READ: Here's government's plan for South Africa's ARV-contaminated water Government to address contamination if needed Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, the water department said it would develop strategies to address contamination, if necessary. This would include working with researchers and the Water Research Commission. 'Most wastewater treatment works were designed some time ago, and they weren't designed with this high level of antiretroviral chemicals being in sewage in mind,' the department's director-general Sean Phillips explained. NOW READ: Water department explains why microplastics, chemicals and ARVs are in South African water
The Citizen
18-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Rand Water wraps up O2 pipeline repairs
Water supply is expected to gradually recover in affected parts of Tshwane, after Rand Water completed critical maintenance work on its O2 pipeline in the early hours of Friday. Rand Water spokesperson Makenosi Maroo confirmed that the leak repair was completed at 02:00 on Friday and that the Palmiet Pumping Station has begun pumping water into the pipeline. 'We are pleased to report that work on the O2 pipeline leak repair was successfully completed in the early hours of this morning,' said Maroo. 🚨 Maintenance Update 🚨⁰O2 Pipeline Leak Repair – Completion Notice 1/2 We are pleased to report that work on the O2 pipeline leak repair was successfully completed in the early hours of this morning, Friday, 18 July 2025, at 02:00. — Rand Water (@Rand_Water) July 18, 2025 She explained that while the pipeline has been recharged and pumping resumed, water supply to affected areas will not be restored immediately. 'It's important to remember that once maintenance is completed, the water supply system takes time to recover and build capacity,' she said. 'Low-lying areas will recover first, while high-lying areas may experience longer delays.' This update follows a major water supply shutdown, which began on July 15. 2/2 Please remember that once maintenance is completed, the water supply system will take time to recover and build capacity. Water supply will not be restored immediately. Low-lying areas will recover first, while high-lying areas may experience longer delays. — Rand Water (@Rand_Water) July 18, 2025 The Tshwane metro had previously advised residents that water supply disruptions would occur for about three days to allow Rand Water to conduct permanent repairs on the O2 pipeline, which had been temporarily patched in the past. Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed earlier that the shutdown was part of the water utility's strategic preparations for the upcoming higher demand period starting in August. 'This essential work will affect those of Tshwane's reservoirs and meters supplied by the Klipfontein, Brakfontein, and Haartebeeshoek Reservoirs,' Mashigo said. The shutdown saw widespread disruptions across numerous regions and suburbs supplied by these reservoirs. Affected areas experienced either low pressure or a complete water outage. The following reservoirs and meters supplied by the Haartebeeshoek Reservoir were affected: LISTEN: Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
