DWS: Closure of Lesotho Highlands Water Tunnel has no link to Gauteng's water shortages

JOHANNESBURG - The Water and Sanitation Department said that the closure of a tunnel carrying water from Lesotho to South Africa had no link to the water shortages in Gauteng.
 
The Lesotho Highlands Water Tunnel was shut down in October and will remain out of service until March next year.
 
The 38km tunnel was shut down for maintenance, which is scheduled to last for a period of six months.

ALSO READ:

• Some Joburg residents fear water restrictions could damage ailing infrastructure

• COGTA Minister wants municipalities to cough up for swelling water bill

• Joburg residents accuse CoJ of using water-throttling as smokescreen for years of mismanagement

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo led a site inspection at the tunnel in the Free State on Friday.
 
The Lesotho Highlands Tunnel supplies water to the Vaal River integrated system, which is then distributed to Rand Water and other suppliers.
 
Although the tunnel will be out of service for six months, there is assurance from the department that this won't have a devastating impact on Gauteng’s water supply.
 
Minister Mahlobo said water shortages in Gauteng were primarily due to inefficiencies at local government level and had nothing to do with the closure of the tunnel.
 
"Most of these major metros never plan for population growth. There are too many people there - whether people are migrating inland, whether people are coming from other countries - it puts pressure on the infrastructure," said Mahlobo.
 
He added that the water infrastructure in the city was over 100 years old.