In Johannesburg, residents in certain areas will face water supply disruptions due to planned maintenance work starting next week.
Johannesburg Water has announced that its teams will be conducting crucial maintenance, which is scheduled to run from 7:00 AM on Monday, February 17, until 6:00 AM on Thursday, February 20.
Maintenance Plans for 83-Hour Water Interruption
As part of this work, Johannesburg Water will carry out a structural diagnostic survey, which will impact water availability.
Although it’s not yet clear whether water tankers will be provided, residents should prepare for an interruption in the water supply.
The areas that will be affected by this maintenance include:
- Kensington
- Kensington South
- Denver
- George Goch
- Malvern East
- Jeppestown
- Cleveland
- Malvern
DA Files Complaint Over Ongoing Water Crisis
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has lodged a formal complaint against Johannesburg Water at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) over the continuing water shortages in the city.
The DA has expressed concern over the erratic water supply, with some areas being without water for weeks.
According to residents, the situation has become so dire that they must rely on slow-flowing water at night or scramble to catch the few water tankers available.
In response to the worsening conditions, Johannesburg Water began implementing water throttling measures in 2024, as supply levels continue to fall.
Rand Water, responsible for providing water to the Gauteng region, has also confirmed a significant decline in reservoir levels, dropping from 70% to below 40% in just a month.
DA Calls for Immediate Action and Disaster Declaration
Jack Bloom, the DA leader in Johannesburg, stated that the Johannesburg Council is in violation of Section 27 (1) (b) of the Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to sufficient water.
Bloom shared that hundreds of residents had submitted testimonials about the severe hardships they are facing due to water shortages.
These include challenges in maintaining personal hygiene, cleaning, flushing toilets, cooking, and caring for babies and sick family members.
Bloom emphasized that the SAHRC must hold the Johannesburg Council accountable and demand immediate relief for those impacted by the critical water shortages, especially in areas where 28 out of 61 reservoirs are either critically low or completely empty.
Furthermore, the DA is urging the provincial government to declare a state of disaster and provide additional water tankers to help struggling residents.
The party also wants the underlying causes of the ongoing crisis to be addressed urgently.