Gauteng's premier Lesufi promises action amidst economic struggles and worsening water shortages

During his State of the Province Address on Monday, Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi outlined 13 critical challenges facing the country’s economic hub. However, his administration’s proposed solutions seemed to focus more on long-term strategies, failing to address the urgent, day-to-day struggles faced by residents. 

The province’s municipalities are in a crisis, plagued by severe underperformance, with only one achieving a clean audit in the current financial year, alongside a rapidly worsening water crisis.

The water crisis is driven by several factors, including ageing infrastructure, illegal connections and excessive consumption.  

On this issue, Lesufi said: “I want to apologise wholeheartedly to all those people who, as we speak, struggle to access water in our province. This is unacceptable. We must intervene decisively and call for accountability. We can’t claim to be a smart province and we still subject our people to this Stone Age problem.”  

Gauteng residents use about 280 liters of water per person per day, well above the global average of 173l, piling more pressure on an already strained water supply system.  

Water leaks in Gauteng, especially in Johannesburg, contribute significantly to the region’s water crisis, with Joburg Water estimating a 26.5% daily loss of treated drinking water owing to leaks and infrastructure problems. Lesufi has said plans to address the problem are at an advanced stage.  

“We are at an advanced stage to repair leaks and replace ageing pipes. Since this intervention water is gradually coming back to our homes,” he said.   

Read more: Power failures exacerbate Joburg's prolonged water shortages, fuelling public outrage 

Frequent water outages mean residents are forced to depend on water tanks or buy water. The poor are left helpless, unable to secure even the most basic needs.

In addition to the commitment to repair the leaks, Lesufi outlined long-term plans which would only materialise in three years.  

“As we move forward, we are preparing all municipalities to receive a large water supply from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, set for completion in 2028. This requires massive upgrades to municipal infrastructure to ensure it can accommodate the additional water supply,” he said.   

Lesufi’s three-hour address, held at the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (Tasez), followed the launch of a programme to drive economic growth and job creation.

The problems he identified include water shortages, cable theft, non-functional traffic lights, potholes, crime, the rapid expansion of informal settlements, electricity (such as load shedding and load reduction), gender-based violence and femicide, drug abuse, inadequate healthcare services, a shortage of schools, failing infrastructure and declining central business districts, and unemployment.

“We have to reverse the impact of what I term G13 problems if we are worthy of being called a government,” he said. “If we can’t resolve these 13 problems, then we have no right to claim that we are a government based on the will of the people.”  

Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi before the State of the Province Address at the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone in Pretoria on 24 February 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Sharon Seretlo)

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Premier Panyaza Lesufi arrives to deliver Gauteng’s State of the Province Address in Pretoria on 24 February 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Sharon Seretlo)

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