Good rains, bad pipes: the real crisis

South Africans have been told to expect a wet summer, with the South African Weather Service predicting above-average rainfall across much of the country. On paper, that sounds like a blessingreservoirs should fill up, gardens should flourish, and taps should run freely. But for millions of residents, particularly in Gauteng, the reality may be quite different.

That’s because rain alone can’t fix decades of neglect in South Africa’s water infrastructure. Pipes are crumbling, reservoirs are poorly managed, and theft adds yet another layer of strain. So, even as clouds gather, taps could still run dry.

Rain won’t solve planning failures

The Weather Service says the El Niño-Southern Oscillation is in a neutral phase, with a weak La Niña expected this summer. This usually means wetter conditions in north-central and eastern parts of the country. That’s good news for farmers and dams. But Johannesburg residents, already angry over frequent water cuts, know rain doesn’t guarantee supply.

Just last week, protests broke out in parts of Joburg over persistent outages. Mayor Dada Morero stepped in to calm tensions, explaining that water reservoirs must reach certain levels before supply can be restored. Joburg Water, meanwhile, has introduced a throttling schedule, effectively rationing water to keep pressure in the system.

Theft, decay, and growing demand

Adding fuel to the crisis is theft. In August alone, Joburg Water replaced 446 stolen meters, a staggering number that reflects both economic desperation and weak security. But the bigger issue, activists say, is infrastructure decay.

“Years of poor planning and underinvestment mean the system simply can’t cope with Johannesburg’s growing population,” says Ferrial Adam from WaterCAN. “On top of that, the infrastructure we do have is falling apart.”

Rand Water insists it is pumping at full capacity, pointing the finger at municipalities that fail to manage supply. Tshwane, for example, recently warned residents of a 10-hour outage in Waterkloof Ridge due to maintenance.

Public frustration boils over

On social media, residents are venting their anger, accusing municipalities of mismanagement while they scramble for bottled water or queue at tankers. Some point to the irony of above-normal rainfall forecasts while urban households still go dry.

The South African Local Government Association has urged calm, but public patience is wearing thin. As one Johannesburg resident put it during protests: “We don’t care about rainfall predictions, we just want water in our taps.”

A deeper problem, a harder fix

South Africa’s water woes go beyond short-term shortages. The country loses billions of litres each year through leaks, theft, and inefficient systems. Even with heavy rainfall, unless government invests in long-term infrastructure upgrades, South Africans will continue to face an unsettling truth: the rain may come, but water security will not.

{Source: The Citizen}

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