The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is deeply concerned at the level of preparedness of Rand Water as it embarks on a so-called planned maintenance programme this December.
While we welcome maintenance work, we believe that this is not just poorly timed, but that it is entirely unfathomable for the entity to conduct infrastructure maintenance now. Gauteng municipalities’ reservoirs face dangerously low water levels as is, during the warmest month of the year. Gauteng is also facing heatwave after heatwave – so as the taps are about to run dry, this is a recipe for disaster.
In engagements with Rand Water, it has also become clear that they are woefully unprepared to deal with the fallout of their maintenance programme.
The system has not been built up to allow for water availability during their maintenance, and more worryingly, they have made only 75 tankers available.
We absolutely reject, and cannot accept that just 75 tankers will be provided for the half of Johannesburg’s population to get clean water for multiple days on end. 75 tankers will not be even close to enough. This is a crisis barrelling toward Joburg at rapid speed.
We demand that Rand Water, and every other water entity in Gauteng, communicate very clearly and proactively what the impact will be on those it serves, and what the alternative will be to provide water to residents. Clear, simple, and accessible contingency plans must be published immediately.
This was not a consultative process, as this decision was made in an office, detached from the lived reality on the ground. Rand Water lurches from one offence to the people, to another.
What is worse, is that Rand Water cannot easily change the date of this shut down for maintenance, as they have contracted themselves into an enormous contractor’s penalty fee of R27 million if they do so.
However, the DA position is that in light of the notable profits that Rand Water have recently shown, they absolutely can afford to take this loss and pay the penalty to protect residents of Johannesburg from this coming crisis.
The problem is crystal clear – Rand Water’s ability for helpful thinking and forward planning left the building long ago.
This reactive nature will now leave millions with their taps dry during the hottest month of the year.
A somewhat disappointing entity has truly turned into the Grinch that steals Christmas.