Gauteng municipalities warned to turn the tide on leaks, infrastructure maintenance

JOHANNESBURG - Many Joburg residents face the harsh reality of not having water this festive season as the city finds itself in the midst of a brewing crisis. 

But this could have all been avoided had maintenance and repairs to infrastructure been carried out timeously. 

Almost half of the water procured for Joburg from Rand Water is lost due to illegal connections leaks and infrastructure issues. 

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Last month, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina had harsh words for municipalities in Gauteng after water restrictions were implemented due to their lack of foresight and planning. 

"The City of Joburg must reduce leaks in its water distribution system and complete its current project for more water reservoirs."

Water expert and Wits University Professor Craig Sheridan says Joburg's water crisis is more an issue of politics than engineering. 

"So, basically it's like we've punched a hole at the bottom of a bucket and we've got a hosepipe filling it and the pipe cannot fill it as fast as the hole is draining.

"Why wasn't our public infrastructure repaired five years ago, or 10 or 15 years ago? Where has all that revenue gone and into what project?" 

Majodina warned that water availability could decline drastically if municipalities don't turn the tide on leaks.