DA Slams Rand Water As Blame Game Fuels Joburg’s Water Outrage

A Growing Crisis Across Johannesburg

Johannesburg’s water crisis continues to escalate, with neighbourhoods like Melville, Westdene and Parktown reporting inconsistent or no supply for a month. Residents have taken to the streets in frustration as outages spread across the metro and political pressure intensifies.

This week, leaders from the Democratic Alliance held a media briefing in Johannesburg to outline what they believe should be done to end the prolonged crisis. The delegation included Solly Msimanga, Helen Zille, Cilliers Brink, and others.

Rand Water Blames Consumption, DA Pushes Back

Earlier in the week, bulk supplier Rand Water indicated that the continuing shortages were the result of high water consumption among residents. This explanation has not gone down well, especially among communities that have been without reliable supply for weeks.

The DA argues that the crisis did not begin with households. Instead, the failures stem from years of inadequate planning and ageing infrastructure. “Residents cannot be blamed for the incompetence and lack of proper planning,” said Msimanga during the briefing.

City Officials Dispute ‘Day Zero’

Amid growing worry, officials from the City of Johannesburg have insisted that there is no imminent threat of a Day Zero scenario. On Wednesday morning, Dada Morero reassured residents that the city is working on more permanent solutions.

However, for many residents who have been without running water for weeks, assurances provide little comfort. The situation continues to fuel frustration as daily life becomes increasingly difficult.

Old Plans, New Promises

Msimanga highlighted that the province’s latest efforts to introduce an intergovernmental approach are not new. According to him, a similar plan was introduced two years ago, yet produced no meaningful improvement.

That history is part of why communities across the city are growing more vocal, staging demonstrations and calling for urgent action to address the ongoing crisis.

A City Running Out Of Patience

With reservoirs under strain, infrastructure deteriorating, and communication between authorities and residents often inconsistent, Joburg finds itself in another prolonged utilities battle. While political leaders debate where responsibility lies, residents continue to queue at water tankers, organise community support, and demand answers.

What happens next will depend heavily on whether the city and its water suppliers can regain control of a crisis that shows little sign of easing.

{Source:EWN}

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