Gauteng’s water infrastructure is under scrutiny once again after authorities announced reduced water flow in several municipalities due to urgent maintenance. The province’s water challenges, attributed to aging pipes, leaks, and poor maintenance, have raised concerns about long-term sustainability.
Public infrastructure expert Professor Gundo Maswime from the University of Cape Town highlighted the severity of the crisis in a recent interview. “With the population growing rapidly, the strain on old infrastructure is immense,” he said. “Many valves and pipes are outdated, leading to frequent bursts and significant water losses.”
Non-Revenue Water: A Costly Problem
One of the biggest issues is non-revenue water (NRW)—water lost through leaks or illegal connections before reaching consumers. In Johannesburg alone, NRW stands at a staggering 45%, meaning nearly half of the water supplied generates no income for municipalities.
“This is unsustainable,” Maswime explained. “Municipalities are not breaking even because they lose revenue while still bearing the costs of water supply, repairs, and labor.”
Maintenance Backlogs and Governance Failures
While scheduled maintenance is underway in parts of Gauteng, Maswime cautioned that short-term fixes are not enough. “Maintenance should be ongoing, but the backlog is so severe that disruptions will keep happening,” he said.
The problem is compounded by poor governance and lack of capacity at municipal levels. Many municipalities do not even know where their pipes are, delaying repairs when leaks occur. In some cases, illegal connections and vandalism worsen losses.
A National Crisis Requiring Urgent Intervention
The water crisis extends beyond Gauteng. Rand Water, the bulk supplier, revealed that 2.5 billion liters of water are lost daily across municipalities. Some regions, like parts of Limpopo, have endured months without reliable supply due to inefficiencies in fixing even minor issues.
Maswime stressed that funding alone will not solve the crisis. “We need to rethink water governance in South Africa,” he said. “This includes better oversight, private sector involvement, and possibly transferring water management to entities like Rand Water in critical areas.”
What’s Next?
With reduced water pressure expected in parts of Gauteng for June and July, residents are urged to use water sparingly. However, without systemic reforms, experts warn that the situation will only worsen as demand outpaces supply.
“South Africa must act now,” Maswime urged. “Otherwise, we risk reaching a point where entire municipalities face prolonged dry spells due to crumbling infrastructure.”
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: Gauteng’s water woes are a symptom of a much larger national crisis—one that demands immediate and coordinated action.
