Rand Water unable to answer DA questions – meets us with blue lights and VIP protection

4 October 2023

Today, the DA in Gauteng conducted an unannounced oversight visit to the Rand Water headquarters in Johannesburg South. We are deeply concerned with the lack of accountability, and transparency we were met with.

Unsurprisingly, the CEO, Sipho Mosai, would not engage with us and drove right past us. Instead, the Acting Managing Director, Tebogo Joala, insisted on meeting us outside - complete with his blue-light brigade and security personnel.

During this engagement, none of our questions were answered, nor were we granted the transparency they claim to espouse. These questions included:

To show us the telemetrics as people deserve to know what is really happening;

We asked about mid- and long-term plans, so that the residents of Gauteng can at the very least know there is a plan to put water in their taps; and

We insisted that they ensure transparent communication going forward

Municipalities struggle to plan adequately, and ensure water delivery to their residents, all because Rand Water is unable to communicate effectively. We are not in any way absolving municipalities of their contributory role in the mess, but we are asking for a complete and transparent supply of information from the source - Rand Water.

The continued veil of secrecy at Rand Water and the arrogance displayed today is truly astonishing. Public representatives are not protected, but Rand Water provides VIP protection and blue lights to their senior managers. They say they don’t answer to public representatives, the very people who face angry and desperate communities on a daily basis. The question is, is there a real sense of urgency to find long-term solutions to ensure that the taps of Gauteng residents don’t run dry.

The DA has called for the resignation of the Rand Water CEO, today we reaffirm this call. Gauteng has been left to fend for itself, and we implore the Minister of Water and Sanitation to intervene in a meaningful manner. Silencing speakers at public meetings, despite what he may believe, is not an intervention.

People can be without a lot of things, but water is not one of them. Sipho Mosai, thousands agree, and thousands more will join our call – you have to go.

Issued by Solly Msimanga, DA Gauteng Premier Candidate, 4 October 2023