DA calls for dismissal of Johannesburg Water board amid persistent crisis

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has demanded the removal of the Johannesburg Water board due to ongoing water challenges in the metro and across the province.

This comes as Johannesburg has been experiencing a severe water crisis, with ongoing water supply issues. This is due to population growth, illegal connections, and damaged and ageing infrastructure.

SHOULD THE JOHANNESBURG WATER BOARD BE DISSOLVED?

The 2023 No Drop report from the Department of Water and Sanitation revealed that Johannesburg suffers from a high water loss rate of 35%—well above the global average of 15%.

Additionally, water consumption in Gauteng averages 279 litres per person per day, which is 60% higher than the world average.

As a result, Johannesburg Water has introduced water throttling between 21:00 and 4:00 and level 1 water restrictions have been in place since 1 September 2024.

Water throttling is the practice of deliberately reducing water pressure in a supply system, often to manage water shortages, control usage, or prevent overuse.

Meanwhile, the DA says cadre deployment in Johannesburg has resulted in the appointment of incompetent individuals to critical positions within Johannesburg Water, leading to the collapse of basic service delivery.

DA Gauteng Johannesburg Regional Chairperson Wendy Alexander said the crisis residents face today is a direct result of years of negligence as critical infrastructure, including reservoirs, has not been built or maintained and outline repairs have been ignored or delayed indefinitely.

Alexander said the current Johannesburg Water board has failed to implement any meaningful solutions.

“Our residents have suffered through multiple years of water disruptions, with some areas affected for extended periods without this basic human right. This is not merely an inconvenience – it’s a public health and human rights emergency,” Alexander said.