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‘Cruelty of the highest order’ — Gauteng residents decry water situation

‘Cruelty of the highest order’ — Gauteng residents decry water situation
Michelle Banda
By Michelle Banda
25 Jul 2024
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Rand Water’s 37-day maintenance project, scheduled to end on 29 July, has caused extended water outages in Gauteng. The bulk water entity says it’s on schedule, but warns that full system recovery may take up to two weeks.

As Rand Water undertakes the final phase of its 37-day maintenance project, which began on 22 June and will end on 29 July, aimed at improving the reliability and efficiency of its water infrastructure, many residents in Gauteng have faced extended water outages ranging from two to seven days. 

Others have experienced intermittent water supply or low water pressure.

Those without water often have no option but to wait. This is despite municipalities’ commitments to implement contingency plans to minimise the impact of the maintenance project on their customers.

In response to the concerns raised by municipal customers regarding maintenance at the Mapleton system and Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Plant this week, Rand Water said:

“Admittedly, there may be short-term inconveniences such as low pressure to no water supply, but the long-term benefits are unparalleled. It is crucial to highlight that this maintenance work must be completed as scheduled to prepare for the high-demand season.”  

It cautioned that full recovery after the maintenance could take up to two weeks. Recovery times would vary from area to area because of the design hydraulics of the systems.

Read more: Dry taps, insufficient water tankers and confusion as Rand Water’s maintenance project hits Day 5

Water woes across Gauteng’s municipalities over the past week have been largely attributed to a 50-hour maintenance project at Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Plant, completed on 18 July, which affected pumping at the Palmiet Booster System that supplies Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Madibeng Local Municipality.

On 20 July, Rand Water reported that the Palmiet Pumping Station was operating at 68% and on a recovery path.



City of Johannesburg


In the City of Johannesburg, the taps in many suburbs ran dry during the maintenance period. The Randburg suburbs of Blairgowrie, Northriding and Ferndale were particularly badly affected, as were Roodepoort and Coronation.

Authorities have maintained that the water shortages are not a result of Rand Water’s month-long maintenance, but rather more localised problems such as pipe bursts and leaks.

Early in July, Rand Water hosted a media briefing at which it said the Commando system, which includes multiple pump stations and four reservoirs, was vulnerable.  

It said the Waterval Booster Pump Station, which supplies Randburg and other areas, was experiencing challenges.

On Tuesday, Johannesburg Water announced that unplanned maintenance would need to be performed on the Commando system on Wednesday, resulting in a water outage in parts of the city.

Johannesburg Water also said that maintenance at the Crosby Reservoir would affect the Brixton Reservoir and tower, Crosby Reservoir and Hursthill 1 and 2 reservoirs.



The Commando system is especially prone to water shortages, and low water pressure, especially in high-lying areas, due to increased demand, ageing infrastructure, security issues and power supply challenges. 

Johannesburg Ward 87 Councillor Kyle Jacobs said: “The reservoirs fed by the Commando system have been struggling with consistently low or non-existent water pressure for a prolonged period and the situation is worsening. Residents who depend on these reservoirs face daily struggles with an unreliable water supply.

“More problematic though is the fact that complete water outages are becoming more common and all the more severe. The unpredictability of whether there will be water for residents when they come home or wake up each day creates significant and unnecessary worry and stress. 

“Joburg Water’s repeated and unclear statements do little to illuminate the ongoing problems with the Commando system or offer any guidance on how these issues will be resolved. ”

City of Ekurhuleni


Residents of Germiston, Primrose, Bedfordview, Elandsfontein and surrounding areas have recently been without water for extended periods.

Germiston resident Eugene de Lange said: “What does this maintenance help when they don’t feed our reservoirs afterwards? Maintenance was completed on 17 July. As of 22 July, huge areas of Germiston — Primrose and surrounding areas — still have no water. And there is no honest communication from you as to why.”  

Ekurhuleni Ward 20 Councillor Jill Humphreys said Rand Water had not been communicating satisfactorily about the water cuts.

“All I can say is my ward, Ward 20, and surrounding areas have not had water for seven days. People are frustrated.

“Yes, tankers have been supplied where possible, but unfortunately they are erratic. We would like them to arrive around 8am, but they arrive at an undisclosed time. Sometimes at 11 or 12 or or even 1 o’clock … people are just desperate to go and get water and continue with their lives.

“The biggest challenge is communication or the lack of it. We knew they were going to do the maintenance, which was bound to affect the water supply. We knew as councillors as well as from previous experience that after maintenance the water would not likely come back immediately. We expected maybe a day or two until the water was back, not seven days.”

Ekurhuleni resident Boikanyo Maseti said, “The residents want water, not effective communication of waterlessness.”

The City of Ekurhuleni reported that an insufficient flow from the Rand Water bulk supply system had interrupted the water supply in multiple areas.

The city said water tankers were supplying the affected areas. However, residents said they had not seen the tankers.

City of Tshwane


In the City of Tshwane, residents from Atteridgeville, Soshanguve, Mabopane and Mamelodi complained about not having access to water or low water pressure.

One resident said, “When will  Soshanguve residents have water? Where are the water tankers? This is cruelty of the highest order.”

Another resident, Justice Tlou, said: “Here in Mamelodi East, Extension 4 we only get water at night at very low pressure. My question is, after fixing they don’t even bother to check if we are getting water as normal?” DM

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