Ensure Basic Water Access Before Cut Offs

WaterCAN says that Joburg and SA’s failure to manage the water crisis is inexcusable.

Routine water cuts lasting weeks in Joburg suburbs. Desperate residents on the streets begging for water tankers that don’t arrive. Inadequate management of leaks. Informal settlements “stealing” water cut off.

This is what failed governance looks like.

We expect the City to reduce water theft. But we expect the City first to ensure that all residents can legally access sufficient water for human dignity, which means access to water within 200m of their homes.

Informal settlements and high poverty levels are a reality. The solution is not simply to cut off illegal water connections in areas where there are no legal connections, but rather to prioritise sufficient and effective deliveries of emergency water, then provide basic infrastructure, and then cut illegal connections.

Every day there are more stories of water chaos and desperate communities, both in Joburg and across the country, particularly in rural areas that are routinely ignored as out of sight (for example, see here).

See this piece, which reports: “According to Johannesburg Water Region G regional manager Kagiso Manganye, the 40 000 illegal connections from 44 informal settlements in the area steal 12 million litres every day”. Has the City just noticed this? Why hasn’t a plan been developed to provide legal access?

Phumla Mqashi informal settlement in Lenasia was cut off a week ago (see here). Where are the working and humane alternatives?

In October, Joburg Water admitted that half its water towers and reservoirs leak, but that it currently plans to fix only about half of those (see here).

In 2024, it is shameful that residents in the City of Joburg must rely on water tankers and street tanks. It is even more shameful that the City seems to rent rather than own tankers. And it is most shameful of all that when those tankers are needed, they are apparently frequently not available.

WaterCAN calls on the City of Joburg to find solutions, urgently. “The same dedication and resources being used to disconnect people should be redirected towards auditing government buildings for leaks, waste, and non-billing of water. Addressing these issues can lead to significant savings and more efficient use of resources, ultimately benefiting the entire community. It’s crucial to prioritise sustainable practices and ensure accountability in public infrastructure,” said Dr Ferrial Adam, WaterCAN Executive Manager.

The City of Joburg receives R7.572 billion from National Treasury in 2024/25 as its equitable share grant, which is primarily intended to fund basic services for indigent households. The OUTA initiative JoburgCAN has looked at Joburg’s indigent spending, and found it inadequate compared to the funding (see here). This is money which should help fund structured, organised and permanent access to water in informal settlements.

In July 2024, the City of Joburg council adopted the Johannesburg Water Turnaround Strategy 2024, at least partly driven by the City’s need to retain the Urban Settlements Development Grant which is worth R5.883 billion over the three years 2024/25 to 2026/27 to Joburg. The council also agreed that a “roadmap on institutional reforms for improved management and governance” and a “water and sanitation business and investment plan” should both be finalised and submitted to National Treasury by 30 September. Where are these plans?

We note that the council item on this strategy report in July included the following: “How can communities be involved in the implementation of this report? By co-operating with JW.” This indicates an unfortunate disregard for community involvement in solutions.

The Urban Settlements Development Grant is, according to the Division of Revenue Act 2024, “To supplement the capital revenues of metropolitan municipalities in order to implement infrastructure projects that promote equitable, integrated, productive, inclusive and sustainable urban development”. In Joburg, much of this grant goes to the Lufhereng project. Joburg also gets a little from the Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant (for “Eradicating spatial inequality towards the creation of liveable, sustainable, resilient, efficient, and integrated towns and cities”), and rather more from the Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant (R2.271 billion over three years, to “facilitate a programmatic and inclusive approach to upgrading informal settlements”).

These funds should be used to provide basic services like water and sanitation for the indigent.

The provision of water and sanitation is a local government responsibility, and the City of Joburg should fulfill its duty.