Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read
30 January 2025 | 18:43 CAT

Residents of Dube and Meadowlands seek alternative means of getting water on March 18, 2024 in Soweto, South Africa. Itís now the fourth day that residents of Dube and Meadowlands are without water since Rand Water experiences a system collapse in some areas of Soweto and Johannesburg. (Photo by Gallo Images/Fani Mahuntsi)

Thousands of households in Gauteng continue to face severe water shortages, despite the completion of scheduled maintenance by Rand Water. The crisis has prompted urgent calls for both government action and responsible water use by residents.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, WaterCan’s Dr. Ferrial Adam stressed that while water levels at the Vaal Dam remain high, the ongoing shortages stem from a deeper issue: aging and neglected infrastructure. “For over 10 years, we did not do enough maintenance on our infrastructure, and now we have to face the consequences,” she said.

The breakdown of Johannesburg’s water supply system is multifaceted. Rand Water, as the bulk supplier, cuts off supply during maintenance. Once work is completed, reservoirs must refill before municipal suppliers like Johannesburg Water can restore access to residents. “Water is not like electricity. You don’t just switch it on—it needs time to flow and fill up reservoirs before reaching people’s taps,” Dr Adam explained.

However, an even greater challenge is the condition of Johannesburg’s reservoirs, half of which are leaking. These structural issues drastically reduce their ability to store and distribute water effectively. Dr Adam noted that some areas experience more severe and prolonged outages due to localized problems within specific reservoirs.

With Johannesburg Water urging residents to conserve water, Dr Adam emphasized the need for behavioural change. “People say, ‘If they’re wasting, I’m going to waste,’ but that attitude is harmful. We live in a water-scarce country and need to change how we value and use this resource.”

In response to the crisis, WaterCan and the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) submitted a petition in January, demanding the City of Johannesburg allocate R3 billion for infrastructure repairs—double the current budget. “Without urgent investment, the situation will only worsen,” Dr Adam warned. The petition has been submitted to the City Speaker at Johannesburg Crisis Alliance public meeting and is expected to be tabled in February.

Looking ahead, Dr Adam predicts that maintenance will continue over the next few years, with priority given to fixing key reservoirs like Yeoville and Brixton. “Even with repairs, restoring the system fully will take two to three years,” she cautioned.

As the crisis unfolds, residents are urged to conserve water while awaiting long-overdue infrastructure improvements.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Dr Ferrial Adam here.