Note to Editors: Please find an English soundbite by Cllr Tyrell Meyers here
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg demands better communication from Joburg Water, as the only information being circulated at the moment regarding water outages and planned maintenance comes from Rand Water, while Joburg Water remains silent, and residents’ taps dry.
This comes on top of existing Rand Water maintenance that had reduced the pumping capacity of the Eikenhof Pumping Station to 50%.
Rand Water’s maintenance already impacts multiple high-demand systemsincluding Commando, Orlando East and West, Soweto, Brixton, Crosby, Hursthill 1 and 2, Northcliff, Crown Gardens, and various central and high-lying suburbs – dry taps stemming from these outages ought to be communicated by Joburg Water, but there has been radio silence on the matter.
We reject the careless manner in which residents have been kept in the dark. Clear, proactive communication would have allowed communities to prepare adequately for a complete water outage not just a 50% supply reduction as previously stated.
This breakdown in communication yet again highlights the inability of this coalition government to coordinate even a communique to residents.
DA councillors across the city are demanding urgent answers to the following:
- Have water tankers been pre-deployed to sensitive areas?
- Will reservoirs be closed off strategically to protect and accelerate post-maintenance recovery?
- When will Joburg Water tell Johannesburg why their taps are dry?
The DA will continue to hold this government accountable for its failures. Johannesburg deserves better.