Latest news with #JoburgWater
Mail & Guardian
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Mail & Guardian
Dry humour isn't funny
Dribs and drabs: Suburbs in the east of Joburg have spent eight days and counting without water. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy It is early on Monday morning and I wake to the sound of a rumble of thunder and a flash of lightning. This is followed by the unmistakable sound of raindrops on the roof. The promised cold front has arrived. Ignoring the icy cold I leap out of bed and rush outside barefoot to check that my primitive water collection system is in place. The old plastic rubbish bin and the vintage zinc bathtub have to be positioned correctly to catch the maximum amount of water running down from my leaking gutters. The reason for this frantic early morning activity is that our suburb is one of the many that have been affected by the ongoing water crisis. The east of Joburg has been particularly badly hit recently and I have not had water for at least eight days since the one day where there was a weak trickle from the taps. Before that there was no water for three or four days at a time and when there was water it was switched off at night in what Joburg Water terms 'throttling'. This violent-sounding nocturnal activity is to allow our much-abused reservoir to recover and fill to a level where at least some areas can get some water the next day. The result of this situation is that my vast collection of five-litre plastic bottles that I spent the summer months filling with rainwater has been depleted and flushing the toilet is becoming a problem. An attack by a nasty stomach bug that required multiple toilet flushings didn't help. So the unseasonal rainfall was perfectly timed but unfortunately it didn't last long and a pathetic amount of water was collected. Disconsolately I go back inside and check that there is enough water in the kettle for a cup of coffee, making sure to divert my eyes from the counter piled high with dirty dishes, pots, cutlery, glasses and mugs. To do the washing-up requires a visit to a friend's house to collect multiple bottles of water. Back home I must heat up water in the kettle and in pots on the stove to clear the unsavoury mess in the kitchen. Grudgingly I fill the dogs' water bowl while delivering a stern lecture on their reckless water consumption. I pour a small glass of water to wash down my blood pressure pills and make sure there is enough left to rinse after brushing my teeth. It is time for the first news diary meeting of the week and once again I tell my colleagues how lucky they are that this is a remote meeting and none of them have to be confined in a small office space with me. A daily shower in the morning is a distant memory so personal hygiene standards have dropped. There is a discussion about how the water crisis is a major story and we have to cover it. But we have done this so many times before that the problem is how to present it in a different way that will make people want to read it. There is no easy solution to this problem so I return to the kitchen in the hope that there is enough water in the kettle for a second cup of coffee. Like a moth to a flame I check on the Water Crisis: Time for Action WhatsApp group. There are 109 new messages, mostly from people saying that there is still no water in their street. There is a map with a growing red line marking the areas that don't have water. There are messages filled with angry words in capital letters. There are plans to hold protests and to visit the offices of those responsible for this shocking lack of basic services. There are many posts about the whereabouts of the elusive water tankers, and many pictures of people filling up containers. The unusual sight of people pushing wheelbarrows filled with plastic bottles down the tree-lined suburban streets has become a familiar one. And there are alarming stories about how air being pushed through the pipes keeps your meter ticking over even though there is no water. In among all this I come across an official statement: 'Today, MMC Jack Sekwaila conducted a site inspection at the Alexandra Park Reservoir with Johannesburg water officials, including Ops GM Mzakhwe Mtshweni. The visit formed part of the city's efforts to accelerate water recovery in affected areas and assess the condition of critical pipeline infrastructure. During the inspection, severe blockages were discovered — caused by illegal dumping, vandalism, and misuse of underground systems. In a concerning development, some underground chambers are being accessed and used as shelter by unhoused individuals, highlighting a deeper human and infrastructure crisis.' In desperate need of distraction I page through a cookery book looking for a new one-pot recipe to make for supper. Perhaps a hearty minestrone soup that the family can spoon from the communal pot. I need to shop for ingredients and the trip to the supermarket takes me down one of the main streets of the suburb. For more than a month it has been reduced to one lane by a series of large craters, the result of ongoing work to repair several sewage pipe leaks. It is not surprising to see nasty grey-green water bubbling up from a new hole in the road. The good news is that I have a gas stove to cook the meal on because there is another fault at the local substation and the power is out. At this stage it is like water off a duck's back.
The Citizen
06-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
City of Joburg billing failure wrongly connects meters, costs resident thousands
What started as a minor billing query last June turned into a year-long nightmare for Peter Maher, a resident in Orange Grove, who found himself paying thousands of rands each month for his neighbour's water consumption. Despite repeated complaints and formal appeals, the mix-up was only recently resolved – but not before costing Maher dearly, both financially and emotionally. Read more: Johannesburg Water is building a valve chamber on 16th Street and 1st Avenue in Parkhurst The trouble began in June 2024 when Maher noticed an unexpected surge in his water bill. 'My usual water bill is around R1 000 a month as I live alone,' he explained, 'but suddenly my bills jumped to R6 000 and sometimes even R8 000 a month.' Upon investigating, he discovered that his account was being charged for the water meter belonging to his neighbour at 19 5th Street. Despite early reports to Johannesburg City customer services in August 2024, it took until November for a meter reader to confirm that Maher's account included the neighbour's new-style water meter readings – a finding that should have resolved the issue swiftly. Instead, confusion and bureaucratic delays set in. 'Joburg Water sent SMSs saying the matter was closed and the billing was correct, even though their own meter reader's report contradicted that,' Maher said. The impact on Maher was severe. Unable to keep up with inflated bills, his electricity was cut off in May 2025 due to non-payment. He had to borrow money to settle his outstanding account and have power restored. The prolonged stress of the situation took a toll on his health. Attempts to resolve the matter through the City of Johannesburg's Ombudsman proved fruitless, with little to no feedback provided. Maher grew increasingly frustrated, suspecting internal blockages and systemic inefficiencies. 'It felt like being passed from pillar to post with no one taking responsibility.' The situation only turned around after a media inquiry and an on-site inspection in May 2025. Johannesburg Water officially acknowledged the error. According to spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala, 'An internal investigation identified that the water meter from 19 5th Street had been mistakenly linked to 21 5th Street due to a data entry error. This was corrected on May 23, and all incorrect charges will be reversed.' Also read: Water restored after Rosebank pipe burst Following media involvement, the issue was resolved swiftly. Maher received his municipal account on May 27 and confirmed that his correct meter number now appears on the bill. He has also been credited with the amount he was wrongly charged. 'It's a huge relief to finally see my correct meter on the account and to have been credited the correct amount. But it's incredibly disappointing that it took media involvement to get the city to take action. This should have been resolved months ago.' This case highlights broader concerns about the efficiency and reliability of municipal billing systems in Johannesburg. Residents complain that billing errors cause undue financial strain and stress, with many facing disconnections despite being law-abiding ratepayers. It raises urgent questions about accountability and the need for stronger oversight to protect vulnerable community members. Ward councillor Eleanor Hugget said the issue was part of a wider problem, with many Johannesburg residents facing ongoing stress due to repeated billing errors and poor resolution from the city. She described the system as inefficient, with residents often pushed from one department to another without proper help, forcing them to pay large sums to avoid service disconnections. Hugget called the situation unacceptable and a form of abuse. For Maher, the resolution brings closure, but also a sense of injustice. 'I'm glad it's finally been sorted out, but it shouldn't take the media to get basic service delivery. I just want to make sure no one else has to go through what I did.' Residents are urged to scrutinise their municipal accounts and report any anomalies immediately and regularly. The city's billing departments face mounting pressure to ensure transparency, responsiveness, and fairness for all. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! Related article: Water disruption in Rosebank and surrounding areas due to emergency repairs At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
02-06-2025
- 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
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. 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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
