Joburg’s water crisis will worsen without intervention
10 October 2024
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg, is once again urgently appealing to the Mayor and the MMC for Environmental and Infrastructure Services, Jack Sekwaila to tackle the ongoing water crisis affecting residents throughout Johannesburg.
Wards 69, 82, 86, 87, and 88, with a combined population far exceeding 100 000, are routinely left dry. The situation has reached a tipping point, with some areas like Crosby going an entire week without water and Johannesburg Water failing to communicate any updates whatsoever.
Considering this ongoing crisis, we felt compelled to bring a motion to council.. The DA introduced this motion to underscore the seriousness of the situation and to demand immediate action. Unfortunately, despite the critical nature of the issue, MMC Sekwaila dismissed our motion outright, claiming that he "does not report to councillors" and accusing us of "wasting council time" by raising the matter. This blatant indifference toward the struggles of residents is simply unacceptable. https://youtu.be/iuQLR6W15lc?si=L-MOUgRvJux05BWk
The Water Services Act (No. 108 of 1997) firmly assures every person the right to have access to clean water. However, the failure of Johannesburg Water to properly maintain its infrastructure boils down to a violation of this essential right. A troubling example is the Hursthill 1 reservoir, which is currently bypassed. The severe damage—a hole so large it could "sink the Titanic"—exacerbates the water supply problems we face.
As frustrated residents have taken to blocking roads in protest, a memorandum was submitted to the Speaker of Council, demanding prompt action. Despite this, the City has not supplied enough tanker services—only 25 water tankers are available for the entire City’s population of almost 5 million people. This leaves large swaths of people without any form of support whatsoever.
We are calling on the city to take the following actions:
1. Provide immediate and transparent communication from Johannesburg Water regarding repair updates;
2. Outline a detailed timeline for fixing the Hursthill 1 and 2 reservoirs; and
3. Increase the provision of water tankers to ensure that affected residents receive water during this crucial time.
The DA will persist in our efforts until the residents of Johannesburg have their basic rights restored. This crisis calls for strong leadership and accountability—attributes that, regrettably, the city has failed to demonstrate.
We encourage residents to join our cause by signing our petition: https://petitions.da.org.za/p/fight-for-water-jhb
Statement issued by Cllr Nicole van Dyk - DA Shadow MMC for Water, Power and Environment, 10 October 2024
