Note to Editors: Please find a soundbite by Cllr Tyrell Meyers here
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is alarmed by Johannesburg Water’s complete lack of preparation for the current water outages—leaving residents across the city reliant on emergency tankers, which are no substitute for proper planning and infrastructure.
The current process of restoring water to Joburg residents after Rand Water has restored supply, is a mess. Due to a lack of proper planning and coordination the Joburg Water systems are struggling to restore supply to residents. This situation could have been avoided and water restored much earlier if it was not for this lack of planning to bring about systematic recharging of the Joburg water network.
While Rand Water communicated its planned maintenance in advance, Johannesburg Water failed to warn residents, failed to coordinate with councillors, and failed to provide any contingency measures. An online meeting after taps run dry is not a plan—it’s an afterthought.
This crisis is not due to a natural disaster. It’s the result of years of neglect, mismanagement, and the refusal of the ANC/EFF/PA/ActionSA coalition to act. The DA’s repeated proposals for audits, better planning, and protecting water revenue have been blocked at every turn.
Our plan is clear:
• Replace Johannesburg Water’s board with qualified professionals;
• Establish proper communication protocols with Rand Water;
• Invest in long-overdue infrastructure upgrades; and
• Investigate unspent infrastructure funds through MPAC.
Tankers are not a solution—they are a sign of failure and often a vehicle for looting. Johannesburg needs leadership that plans ahead and puts residents first. The DA is ready to lead that change