Residents in Gauteng experience dry taps as the DA pushes for urgent action on water infrastructure issues. File Picture: Henk Kruger / Independent Newspapers
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has expressed alarm over the ongoing water outages in Gauteng, affecting millions of residents in Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni.
This comes after a technical fault at Rand Water’s Palmiet Pump Station exposed the province's vulnerability to water insecurity, with disruptions revealing broader issues within the region’s water infrastructure.
The crisis began after a fault at Rand Water’s Palmiet Pump Station, initially linked to an Eskom power failure by Johannesburg Water. However, Eskom clarified that the fault was due to a damaged circuit breaker at the pump station.
Rand Water's lack of communication has left residents without clear answers, contributing to further frustration.
Stephen Moore, DA deputy spokesperson on Water and Sanitation, emphasised the severity of the issue, saying: “The fact that a pump station operating at only 80% capacity for less than a day can lead to such widespread outages signals a grave problem.
‘’We simply do not have the necessary infrastructure resilience to endure even minor disruptions.”
The current water shortage highlights the greater Gauteng water crisis, driven by insufficient reserves in municipal reservoirs.
The DA has called for urgent steps to upgrade and maintain water infrastructure, urging Rand Water and Gauteng municipalities to prioritise transparency and resilience.
Moore added, “The continued neglect of essential maintenance leaves millions vulnerable to outages that disrupt daily life, health, and business.”
Without immediate action, the region's water system will remain unable to meet the growing demands of its population, putting both the economy and public health at risk.
‘’We further call on the Gauteng municipalities to prioritise infrastructure maintenance and water resource management to protect residents from future outages.’’
The DA said it is committed to holding Rand Water and local municipalities accountable, while advocating for sustainable solutions to prevent future water crises in Gauteng.
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