Premier Lesufi Should Check the Taps First

GOOD Statement by Matthew Cook, GOOD National Chairperson:

GOOD notes Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s 2026 State of the Province Address and his claims that water supply has been restored in several affected areas. Before making such declarations, the Premier should check the taps because in many communities across Gauteng, they are still dry.

Residents continue to endure inconsistent supply, low pressure, and extended outages. Announcing restoration from a podium does not equate to reliable water in households. The much-referenced Brixton Reservoir project, cited again in this year’s address, was scheduled for completion more than a year ago. Delays of that magnitude cannot simply be repackaged as progress. Infrastructure that consistently misses deadlines erodes public trust and deepens frustration in already vulnerable communities.

Water is not the only area where the gap between announcement and lived reality is widening. The Premier also highlighted progress in fixing traffic lights and potholes, yet across the province, residents still navigate dark intersections, dangerous roads, and recurring infrastructure failures. A traffic signal repaired today but dysfunctional again next month is not a sustainable solution. Gauteng needs durable maintenance systems, transparent performance dashboards, and consequence management when contractors and departments fail to deliver.

Similarly, while reported decreases in certain crime categories are welcome, communities still experience daily insecurity. Crime statistics must translate into visible safety on streets, functioning street lighting, responsive law enforcement, and effective coordination between provincial and local authorities. Residents measure safety by whether they can walk home without fear and not by percentages read from a speech.

Over the past three SOPAs, water security, infrastructure reform, and service delivery improvements have been recurring commitments. Yet many of these same challenges remain central themes year after year. If the provincial government believes the tide is turning, it must publish verifiable data: which water systems are fully operational, what current reservoir levels and supply reliability look like, how many traffic lights are permanently restored, and what timelines exist for projects that have already missed deadlines.

GOOD calls for measurable timelines, transparent reporting, and firm accountability for missed targets. Gauteng residents do not need reassurance — they need results. Before declaring crises resolved, the government must ensure the taps are running, the lights are working, and the streets are safe.

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