In a stark reminder of the country’s infrastructure challenges, parts of South Africa’s largest city, Johannesburg, have been grappling with water shortages for almost two weeks, exacerbating concerns just two months ahead of a general election.
The prolonged water outage affecting swathes of Johannesburg and the broader Gauteng province underscores a deepening crisis in the water system, particularly alarming during one of the region’s hottest months.
Ferrial Adam, executive manager of WaterCAN, a civil society group, has described the situation as “on the brink of a catastrophic water supply crisis,” attributing it to a lack of maintenance spending over the past decade. Adam stated, “Now they’re really just chasing their tails.”
Residents like Jana Porter, a marketing executive, found themselves facing the reality of the water scarcity on March 3, waking up to find no running water in her home. Despite having invested in a backup tank, the prolonged outage left her family struggling, especially amid a heatwave.
While water shortages are increasingly affecting wealthier suburbs, less affluent areas have long grappled with such challenges. Daily blackouts impact the pumps supplying water to sprawling townships, where approximately half of Gauteng’s population resides.
The ANC, facing predictions of a drop in vote share, has pledged to end power blackouts by the year’s end, though doubts linger about its feasibility. Addressing the water crisis poses no less complexity.
Gauteng’s water infrastructure, designed during the interwar years, is struggling to meet modern demands. Craig Sheridan, director of the Centre in Water Research and Development at the University of Witwatersrand, highlights a significant gap between necessary pipeline upgrades and actual progress, compounded by managerial and technical oversights.
Rand Water, Johannesburg’s supplier, disclosed that half of potable water running through pipes is lost to leaks, wastage, and illegal connections. Municipalities owe water boards billions, hindering upgrade efforts. Johannesburg Water also faces significant unpaid water bills.
Experts suggest the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, scheduled for completion in 2028, could alleviate pressure on South Africa’s water systems. However, the crisis extends beyond homes, with implications for manufacturing and mining sectors, as noted by Business Leadership South Africa’s chief executive, Busisiwe Mavuso.
As South Africa navigates these challenges, the specter of infrastructure failures looms large, underscoring the urgency for comprehensive solutions to safeguard economic and social stability.
