News
Residents battle water outages amid Joburg heatwave
Joburg is baking and for some residents the cruel part is that the taps aren’t helping. The City’s public safety office noted the Joburg heatwave across most of the metro, Joburg Etc reports.
What the City wants you to do
Drink plenty of water, stay out of direct sun between 11:00 and 15:00 and take regular shade breaks if you work outdoors. Check on the elderly, young children and anyone who is sick, and never leave kids or pets in a parked car. Dizziness, headache, nausea, confusion or fainting are signs of heat exhaustion, so get to a cool spot and ask for help.
♦️ HEATWAVE ALERT UPDATE ♦️
The heatwave is expected to continue today, Friday 13 November 2026, across most parts of Johannesburg.
Residents are urged to:
✅ Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water
✅ Avoid direct sunlight, especially between 11h00 and 15h00
✅ Take regular breaks in the shade when working outdoors
✅ Check on the elderly, young children and the sick
🚫 Never leave children or pets in a parked vehicleIf you or someone near you shows signs of heat exhaustion (dizziness, headache, nausea, confusion or fainting), move to a cool place and seek help.
📞 Emergencies: City of Joburg EMS 011 375 5911 or 112
A safer Johannesburg remains our priority.
#SaferJoburg
COJ People’s MMC Public Safety (@PublicSafetyMMC) November 13, 2026
Emergencies: City of Joburg EMS on 011 375 5911 or 112
Scheduled maintenance has interrupted supply in areas including Bedford Park and Lenasia South, while low reservoir levels and bulk supply issues add to the strain. Online, residents have pointed out the irony of being told to hydrate when the tap gives you nothing. One X user also claimed that the treated water lost in Gauteng alone is more than all the purified water produced in the Western Cape.
Rain is forecast for the weekend and Tshwane is enforcing restrictions to curb overuse. Until then, fill a few bottles before maintenance starts and keep an eye on your neighbours. The heat advice is simple, but the infrastructure behind it is the harder fix.
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