Note to Editors: Please find English sound bite by Nico de Jager MPL here.
Residents of Klipfonteinview, Johannesburg, continue to grapple with persistent water shortages, highlighting critical infrastructure and planning challenges in the city.
The crisis has sparked protests in the area, with protesters barricading the westbound lane of Allendale and Kynoch Roads. Furthermore, a lack of clear communication from authorities has exacerbated the situation, leading to frustration among residents. Local officials, particularly the ward councillor, face misplaced blame for water woes outside their control.
The root of the crisis lies in Klipfonteinview’s current water supply arrangement. The area relies on the Ekurhuleni reservoir, which must maintain at least a 50% capacity to adequately serve the community. However, high demand frequently depletes the reservoir, resulting in water shortages or poor pressure for Klipfonteinview residents.
Compounding the issue is a geographical challenge: water must be pushed over a hill to reach Klipfonteinview, a task that becomes impossible when reservoir levels or pressure are low. This leaves residents without water for extended periods, sometimes lasting days.
A potential long-term solution has been identified: establishing a direct Johannesburg Water supply from Rand Water, bypassing the Ekurhuleni reservoir. However, despite the ongoing nature of these issues, there has been little tangible progress from the City of Johannesburg, Rand Water, or the City of Ekurhuleni in implementing this or any other lasting solution.
The implementation of a comprehensive water demand strategy could significantly alleviate these issues. This strategy incorporates, among other measures, the reduction of Non-Revenue Water (NRW) by minimising physical losses in the system. By doing so, both the Rand Water supply from the Palmiet side and the Johannesburg Water side would become more stable due to improved and more available capacity.
This ongoing water crisis underscores the urgent need for improved infrastructure planning, increased investment, and better inter-municipal cooperation in Gauteng. The failure to provide reliable basic services and clear communication demonstrates a concerning lack of preparedness and responsiveness from city officials.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) demands that the Department of Cooperative Governance and Tradition Affairs (COGTA) engage the City of Johannesburg and Rand Water to immediately address this crisis by improving communication with affected residents and fast-tracking the implementation of a comprehensive, sustainable solution to ensure reliable water access for Klipfonteinview and all Johannesburg residents.
The DA is committed to ensuring that all Gauteng residents have access to uninterrupted, clean, usable water as guaranteed in the constitution of our country.