Joburg water chaos: Parliament gives Mayor Dada Morero 14 days to fix water crisis
The City of Joburh Mayor Dada Morero and Joburg Water have been given 14 days to present concrete solutions to alleviate ongoing water supply disruptions that have left many residents without water for prolonged periods.
In meeting convened by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation on Friday, the escalating water crisis in Johannesburg took centre stage, with a stark warning delivered to key water suppliers.
The meeting brought together a cross-section of stakeholders, including representatives from Johannesburg Water, Rand Water, the Department of Water and Sanitation, and the City of Johannesburg’s executive leadership.
The forum painted a sobering picture of deep-rooted infrastructure failures, financial mismanagement, and operational inefficiencies, all contributing to a system teetering on the brink.
Joburh Water, responsible for municipal water management, revealed ongoing challenges related to high levels of non-revenue water – water lost due to leaks, illegal connections, and system inefficiencies.
Alarmingly, financial mismanagement surfaced as a core issue, with allegations that the city administration diverted or withheld funds allocated to Johannesburg Water.
Member of Parliament Visvin Reddy stressed that this has directly impacted the ability to compensate contractors, many of whom have halted projects critical to maintaining and upgrading water infrastructure.
The Department of Water and Sanitation underscored the compounded pressures faced by Johannesburg’s water supply, highlighting rapid population growth, aging infrastructure, climate variability, and drought conditions.
Joburg Water’s Managing Director, Ntshavheni Mukwevho, detailed the narrow margin between water demand and supply, noting that current demand often exceeds available supply.
He stated that the already stretched system is vulnerable to disruptions caused by technical failures and intermittent electricity load reductions, which hinder pumping capacity.
“We are operating with a temporary license and at a fragile equilibrium,” he explained.
“Peak demands quickly drain reservoir levels, and any electromechanical disruption or cable theft can cripple supply capacity.”
Further aggravating the crisis is the approximately 33% average leakage in municipal distribution networks across Johannesburg and surrounding municipalities, meaning one-third of treated water never reaches consumers.
Rand Water emphasised that improving infrastructure-particularly storage and pumping capacity-and reducing leakages must be priorities.
Committee members voiced deep frustration at the slow pace of progress and poor communication with affected communities, and questioned leadership accountability, particularly of the city of Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero.
EFF’s Makoti Khawula accused the mayor of not doing enough and of neglecting the city.
“I have pictures and evidence pointing out that our people don’t have water, and the mayor is not providing solutions on what needs to be done. It appears he doesn’t know what needs to be done, and the people are suffering,” she said.
Portfolio Committee Chairperson Leonard Jones Basson handed the floor to Mayor Dada Morero, who acknowledged the challenges but cited competing budget priorities.
Morero outlined that while the City Council had approved a water and sanitation turnaround plan, its implementation was hindered by financial constraints.
“We appreciate the opportunity to provide updates and will present key interventions underway. We are committed to resolving the current challenges.”
However, officials made it clear that the current trajectory was unsustainable, with Minister of Water Pemmy Majodina stressing urgent improvements in infrastructure and coordination.
“It requires more than a bulk water supply. It demands efficient use of infrastructure in good condition — treatment, storage, pumping, and distribution — along with close coordination among national, provincial, and municipal players.
“We look forward to working together to ensure we attend to this crisis urgently,” the Minister said.
As the meeting adjourned, the Portfolio Committee delivered a firm directive to Johannesburg Water Morero.
The Committee tasked Morero with presenting detailed financial audits, progress reports, and a clear, actionable roadmap within 14 days.
The committee warned that failure to produce substantial evidence of improvement would precipitate further parliamentary scrutiny and possible intervention.
thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za
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