The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has sharply criticised the City of Johannesburg over ongoing water shortages, deteriorating infrastructure and service delivery failures during the commission’s inquiry into Gauteng’s water crisis.
The inquiry, convened by the commission’s Gauteng Provincial Office, forms part of an investigation into ongoing water challenges affecting municipalities throughout the province.
City Manager Dr Floyd Brink told the inquiry that Johannesburg faced a range of complex challenges, including ageing infrastructure, rapid population growth and mounting pressure on water supply systems.
“There are several issues and challenges we have as a city, but the plan is to move towards being a world-class city,” Brink said.
He acknowledged that Johannesburg Water faces an infrastructure backlog estimated at R27 billion, adding that the city has adopted a 10-year turnaround strategy aimed at addressing long-term service delivery and infrastructure problems.
Brink said the city remained committed to holding Johannesburg Water accountable as it works to improve reliability in water supply.
However, SAHRC Commissioner Dr Henk Boshoff rejected the city’s assertion that it is a world-class city.
“You are aspiring to be a world-class city, you are not anymore,” Boshoff said during the inquiry.
“Your responsibility is to provide water to all who live in the City of Johannesburg,” Boshoff added.
Johannesburg Water Managing Director Ntshavheni Mukwevho told the inquiry that the entity spends approximately R130 million annually on water tankers used to supply both informal settlements and areas affected by system failures.
Mukwevho said about 90% of tanker operations are directed towards informal settlements.
Boshoff strongly criticised the city’s reliance on water tankers, describing the practice as “a brazen form of financial mismanagement” and corruption.
Mukwevho agreed with the commissioner’s concerns and said Johannesburg Water has begun a process to fully insource tanker operations.
“We have acquired 20 water tankers and ordered an additional 20, which will be delivered by the end of June,” Mukwevho said.
He explained that Johannesburg Water currently utilises about 60 tankers and plans to reduce reliance on external service providers in the next financial year.
Responding to complaints about tankers arriving in communities late at night and allegations that some residents are forced to pay for water, Mukwevho said the utility had received tip-offs and launched investigations.
“We are going to act based on the outcome,” he said.
Mukwevho added that Johannesburg Water is implementing tracking technology to monitor tanker movements and ensure vehicles complete their designated delivery routes.
On water quality concerns, he said an independent laboratory monitors water quality, including water distributed through tankers, with more than 500 samples tested regularly.
He added that stationary tanks are cleaned every six months, a timeframe the commission criticised as inadequate.
“I think this should be more regular than six months. Surely the water residents are getting is then not clean,” Boshoff said.
The commissioner delivered a scathing assessment of Johannesburg’s service delivery failures, accusing the city of failing residents despite repeated promises and plans.
“This is a sad state of affairs, the City of Johannesburg. We hear about these plans, but you are not sticking to them. Please stop taking us for fools. People are entitled to adequate services, and they are not receiving it. This city is in a state of disaster,” Boshoff said.
Meanwhile, Mogale City Municipal Manager Makhosana Msezana acknowledged challenges facing wastewater treatment infrastructure in the municipality, saying aging plants and years of under-maintenance had contributed to the crisis.
“If you don’t maintain the infrastructure, over time it will collapse,” Msezana said.
He told the inquiry that water and sanitation had now been elevated to the municipality’s top priority after previously ranking lower on its list of priorities.
Msezana said Eskom, Rand Water and employee costs consume a significant portion of the municipality’s budget, with Eskom receiving around R120 million monthly and Rand Water between R60 million and R65 million.
The municipality also employs more than 2 000 staff members.