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Parliament gives Joburg Mayor 14 days to solve city’s deepening water crisis
A city on the brink
Johannesburg’s water crisis has escalated to the point where Parliament has stepped in. Mayor Dada Morero and Johannesburg Water have been given two weeks to provide concrete solutions after yet another round of disruptions left thousands of residents dry.
The order came from the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation, which convened a tense meeting with the city’s leadership, Rand Water, and the Department of Water and Sanitation. What emerged was a stark diagnosis: Johannesburg’s water system is buckling under the weight of poor infrastructure, financial mismanagement, and a demand that consistently outstrips supply.
A web of leaks and losses
Johannesburg Water revealed that roughly a third of the city’s treated water never reaches taps. Leaks, illegal connections, and systemic inefficiencies bleed away supply before it can reach residents. To make matters worse, officials admitted that diverted funds and unpaid contractors have delayed essential upgrades.
Ntshavheni Mukwevho, Johannesburg Water’s managing director, described a fragile network, stretched thin and easily toppled by power cuts or cable theft. Reservoirs are running on the edge, he warned, with peak demand draining levels faster than they can be replenished.
Political frustration boils over
The crisis is not just about pipes and pumps but also about political accountability. Committee members grilled city leaders, questioning why communities continue to suffer while plans stall. EFF MP Makoti Khawula accused Mayor Morero of failing residents, saying evidence showed entire neighbourhoods without water and little sign of clear solutions from the city.
Morero acknowledged the challenges and pointed to a turnaround plan already approved by council but admitted that financial constraints have delayed progress. He promised to deliver updates and insisted the city remained committed to resolving the crisis.
National government steps in
Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina made it clear that patchwork solutions would not be enough. She stressed the need for upgraded infrastructure across treatment plants, storage facilities, pumping systems, and distribution networks. For her, collaboration between national, provincial, and municipal players is the only way to tackle the crisis at scale.
The countdown begins
As the meeting drew to a close, Parliament handed down its ultimatum. Mayor Morero and Johannesburg Water must present audited financials, detailed progress reports, and a clear roadmap within 14 days. Failure to do so could trigger deeper parliamentary intervention.
For Joburg residents who have lived with dry taps and inconsistent supply, the directive offers a glimmer of hope but also a reminder that time is running out. The city now faces a countdown that will test not just pipes and reservoirs but the political will to deliver on basic human needs.
Also read: ANCYL Weighs In as DA’s Kohler Barnard Faces Explosive Intelligence Allegations
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Polity.org
