Unfolding water crisis in Johannesburg deepens as officials scramble for answers

In the wake of the deepening water crisis in the city of Johannesburg, mayor Kabelo Gwamanda convened a crisis meeting to provide an update on the recovery of the collapsing water system in the city.

During Tuesday’s crisis meeting Johannesburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda provided an update on the recovery of the water system in the city and assured Johannesburg residents that water would be restored on Wednesday. “The reality is that minor faults will affect an entire pump station or reservoirs and that will have far-reaching repercussions.”Water leakages are another problem affecting the city supply and Rand Water has repeatedly stressed the importance of reporting such incidents.

Owner of the famous Sakhumzi Restaurant on Vilakazi Street in Orlando, Soweto, Sakhumzi Maqubela said, “It’s been a mess or it is a mess. We are in trouble as we have had to employ more hands to gather us water to clean dishes at the restaurant.” Contrary to Joburg Water’s announcement on Tuesday that most affected reservoirs at the Eikenhof Pump Station had recovered and were supplying residents with water, many areas remained dry.

A resident who did not want to be named added, “In my house, we are fortunate enough to have a Jojo tank. This is where we have been getting water from but other neighbours are not as fortunate and there have not been tankers either to help with supply in the time being. People have to run like crazies around in the suburbs looking for tankers or asking others with boreholes. Others are not even physically fit to carry water up and down the street. We help where we can but it is very inhumane.

“Our infrastructure is far from being adequately managed. According to Treasury you should use 60% of the cost of the asset for maintenance and we haven’t even spent 2%. We have not done enough,’’ Dr Adam said.

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