Residents in several high-lying areas of Johannesburg are entering a fifth day without reliable water supply following a major infrastructure maintenance operation by Rand Water, with communities in Bedfordview and Coronationville among the hardest hit.
The bulk water utility concluded the first phase of its essential maintenance work on Sunday, December 15th, after a three-day project that began on December 13th. While the work is deemed critical for long-term infrastructure stability, the recovery process has been slow, leaving elevated suburbs parched.
The problem, explained a Rand Water spokesperson, is one of gravity. “The main reason for that is our central reservoir is very high up. So it’s last in line to receive,” the spokesperson said. “The whole system works on gravity. So the system has to fill from the bottom.”
The spokesperson described a vast network that must refill, stating, “When I’m talking about the bottom, I’m talking about greater Germiston, a huge like 50 kilometers of pipes.” Regarding the delay for some areas, the spokesperson added, “We were last told that the water is still at Eikenhof and we are patiently waiting for its arrival… We don’t know if it is stuck in traffic. We don’t know if it is still crawling or running of petrol, but we are patiently waiting for the water to come.”
The prolonged outage has caused significant disruption for families ahead of the festive season. A Bedfordview resident described the personal toll, recounting a message from her son: “He said, ‘Hey, when are you coming back home? We need to drive out to go and get water because he could not bath.’ So, it’s affecting everyone and it’s very sad.”
The impact is particularly acute for households with children now home for the holidays. A Coronationville resident highlighted the struggle: “It’s not like where people were at work when we didn’t have water… But now because we have kids at home, mothers at home, they’ve got to see to the house… There’s no water. So, it’s difficult for them.”
Another resident emphasized the health and hygienic concerns, especially for young children who play outside. “It’s very unhygienic… And then we have to carry heavy buckets,” she said.
In Coronationville, the limited availability of municipal water tankers has forced many to rely on alternative sources. Residents report queuing for water from Jojo tanks provided by a local mosque to meet their daily needs.
The recurring disruptions are also raising broader concerns about community well-being and property values. A resident with health issues stated, “Water is a very big priority for me.” They also noted a perceived decline in the area: “Most of the people… they’re selling houses and they’re getting next to nothing for their houses because back in the day this place was so valuable… now the value has dropped.”
Despite the acute frustration, many residents acknowledge the necessity of the maintenance work and express hope it will result in a more reliable supply long-term. The immediate collective hope, however, is more pressing: that water will be restored in time for Christmas.
