Gauteng municipalities must improve water infrastructure to avoid unnecessary leaks - Mahlobo

JOHANNESBURG - Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo said that of the 5.1 billion litres that Rand Water supplied to Gauteng daily, at least 2.5 billion of it was lost to leakages.

Mahlobo claims Gauteng's water shortages could be quickly resolved by fixing leaks in both underground pipes and within communities.

He was speaking at the Lesotho Highlands Tunnel in the Free State on Friday, which transports water from Lesotho to South Africa.

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Mahlobo said that there was no need to increase Gauteng's water allocation. 

He said that such a move would be wasteful and irresponsible, as a significant amount of water in the province was lost due to leaks before reaching households.

"There is only one solution. In Gauteng, Rand Water gives them more water than they need but the water doesn't arrive at the citizen, and the citizens are justifiably angry."

He said that municipalities in Gauteng must improve their water infrastructure to avoid unnecessary leaks.