System collapse warning for parts of South Africa
The government has warned that water restrictions will be introduced in parts of Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the North West to address the water shortages.
However, it added that some parts of Gauteng are at risk of water system collapse if urgent steps are not taken to reduce pressure on strained infrastructure.
Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina said the scale of the problem at the municipal level is severe.
Majodina said the cost of fixing water infrastructure at local government level is massive. “In terms of water infrastructure at the local government sphere, we need nothing less than R400 billion to fix the water infrastructure,” she said.
Technical teams have recommended immediate measures to prevent the system from crashing. Deputy Minister David Mahlobo said “soft water restrictions” will be introduced in some areas to reduce demand.
“There are going to be soft water restrictions. The soft water restriction will only apply in the areas where the system is already applying water; they are going to be put on restriction. We’ll also do something called load shifting,” Mahlobo said.
The restrictions will apply to Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane, as well as parts of Mpumalanga and the North West supplied by the main Rand Water system.
Load shifting means water will be redirected from reservoirs with enough supply to those running low, in an effort to balance the system and prevent a total collapse.
The measures will affect areas that are still receiving water in order to support areas already under strain.
In Johannesburg, Mayor Dada Morero said the city is taking steps to stabilise supply and cut consumption.
Speaking at the New Brixton Reservoir, he acknowledged that several areas have faced water disruptions in recent weeks.
“The city is taking decisive action to stabilise the water supply network and reduce consumption through a comprehensive, multifaceted Water Demand Management programme,” Morero said.
He said the plan involves cooperation between the city, Johannesburg Water, Rand Water and other stakeholders to deal with both short-term disruptions and long-term water security risks.
What’s being done about the water issues
Johannesburg is one of Rand Water’s biggest bulk customers and must reduce usage to meet its licence conditions.
Morero said the city must “reach a critical target of 1,550 Ml/d to comply with licence apportionment requirements”.
The city is introducing urgent measures, including real-time monitoring of consumption at the district and household levels, partnerships with businesses to drive water-saving initiatives, and enhanced public awareness campaigns.
Other actions already underway include night-time throttling to reduce losses, strategic bulk meter restrictions in high-consumption zones, intensified pressure management, and advanced leak detection technologies deployed across the network.
Rapid response teams are repairing leaks, while ward committees are helping identify problem areas faster.
Residents in areas such as Melville, Westdene and Parktown West have experienced disruptions due to constraints in the Commando system and ongoing work.
Technical teams are working to fix pressure problems, clear blockages and provide alternative supply through water tankers and mobile storage where necessary.
Morero said infrastructure upgrades are also underway in the Brixton, Crosby and Hursthill areas, including new reservoirs, pump stations and refurbishment of ageing systems.
“These projects are expected to significantly improve capacity, operational flexibility, and resilience upon completion,” he said.
He urged residents and businesses to reduce water use and report leaks. “The city acknowledges the inconvenience caused by water supply challenges and assures residents that every effort is being made to stabilise the network as quickly as possible,” Morero said.
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