The City of Tshwane has sounded the alarm on its water crisis, warning that its distribution network may run dry within the next month or two if consumption patterns do not change.

Municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo warned residents and businesses that the current high consumption pattern is putting the city’s bulk water system under severe strain “and may lead to the municipality’s system eventually collapsing”.

He said the real issue in Tshwane is not the water network itself, but rather the behavior of consumers who ignore the city’s call for water conservation. 

According to him, Rand Water has identified Tshwane as the second highest consuming municipality in the Gauteng province. 

“As of last week Monday, September 8, 2025, Rand Water was pumping 926 million litres per day to Tshwane, when it is supposed to be pumping 662 million litres per day. This is 22% more than the city’s permitted limit,” he said

Mashigo said the high consumption was attributed to 16 of the city’s reservoirs which reflected excessively high-water consumption patterns. 

“It is disheartening to note that consumers’ behaviour has not changed, despite the city’s series of requests to consumers to use water sparingly,” he said.

As of  September 18, 2025, the 16 identified reservoirs are continuing to record even higher consumption figures. 

Mashigo said: “The situation has now been worsened by the addition of four more reservoirs with high consumption figures, bringing the total number of reservoirs with high consumption to 20. The consumption at these reservoirs is outpacing the available supply.”

Meanwhile, Member Mayoral Committee for Utility Services, Frans Boshielo, said he will launch a water-saving blitz in Soshanguve on Monday as part of a week-long, high-impact leak repairs and water-saving operation in the township.

He said the campaign will focus on wards 36, 37 and 90 to reduce water losses, restore pressure, and protect critical infrastructure. 

During the blitz, teams will repair more than 546 water meter leaks and 150 burst pipes, clear 195 sewer blockages, remove illegal connections and conduct billing audits.

Boshielo said: “This operation forms part of Tshwane’s broader campaign to cut non-revenue water, conserve scarce resources and strengthen service delivery.”

According to the city, Region One, which includes Soshanguve, Rosslyn, Ga-Rankuwa, and Mabopane, accounts for a substantial 50% of water losses.

Vuyo Zitumane, chief operations officer, recently said the city’s main challenge is non-technical water losses, followed by technical losses due to aged infrastructure.

The Auditor-General of South Africa has flagged R1.3 billion in the city’s water losses during the 2023/24 financial year.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

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