Johannesburg Water Crisis: Causes, Community Impact, and Restoration Efforts

Understanding the Johannesburg Water Crisis

The Johannesburg water crisis has left thousands of residents in suburbs like Coronationville, Westbury, and Claremont grappling with dry taps, sparking protests and demands for urgent action. As of September 2025, the City of Johannesburg faces one of its worst shortages in years, with up to 60% of the city affected by intermittent or no water supply. This article explores the root causes, the profound community impact, and the ongoing restoration efforts led by city officials, including Mayor Dada Morero, to address this critical issue.

What’s Causing the Johannesburg Water Crisis?

The water crisis stems from a combination of systemic and technical issues that have compounded over years:

• Aging Infrastructure: Johannesburg’s water system, particularly the Commando System serving areas like Coronationville and Westbury, relies on outdated reservoirs and pipes. The Hursthill, Brixton, and Crosby reservoirs are in dire need of refurbishment, with completion dates not expected until October 2026.
• High Water Demand: Rising summer temperatures and population growth have increased water consumption, straining reservoirs to critically low levels. Mayor Morero has noted that demand often exceeds supply, necessitating measures like water throttling in less-affected areas.
• Illegal Connections and Leaks: Johannesburg Water reports that 44.8% of water is lost to non-revenue sources, with 32.9% attributed to leaking pipes and illegal connections. These losses exacerbate shortages and reduce available supply.
• Financial Mismanagement: Allegations of a R4 billion diversion from Johannesburg Water’s budget have sparked controversy. Critics, including the Democratic Alliance (DA), claim these funds were reallocated to general city expenses, halting critical maintenance projects and contractor payments. Mayor Morero denies the funds are missing, asserting they were used for broader service delivery needs like salaries and utilities.
• Power Outages and Technical Failures: Electrical faults at pump stations, such as those in Mfuleni and Eikenhof, have disrupted water distribution, further straining the system.

Community Impact: A Daily Struggle

The water crisis has profoundly affected residents, particularly in Johannesburg’s western suburbs:

• Daily Life Disruptions: Residents like Julie Fahmay from Coronationville’s senior citizens’ village must carry buckets from water tankers, as taps have been dry for weeks. Many wake between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. to collect water when supply is intermittently restored, disrupting sleep and daily routines.
• Health and Hygiene Concerns: Limited water access has compromised hygiene, with residents reporting difficulties in bathing or flushing toilets. This poses health risks, especially for vulnerable groups like the elderly and children.
• Economic Burden: Elderly residents have resorted to spending pension funds to pay for help carrying water from tankers, adding financial strain. Businesses and public institutions, including the Johannesburg High Court, have faced temporary closures due to shortages.
• Protests and Violence: Frustration has boiled over into violent protests in Coronationville and Westbury, with residents blocking roads, burning tyres, and clashing with police. On September 10, 2025, police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse crowds, injuring at least one person and escalating tensions.
• Eroding Trust: Repeated unfulfilled promises, such as Morero’s initial seven-day restoration pledge, have fueled skepticism. Residents vow to continue protesting until water flows consistently, reflecting a broader loss of faith in city leadership.

The crisis has not only disrupted daily life but also highlighted systemic governance issues, with civil society groups like WaterCAN warning of a potential collapse in water management.

Restoration Efforts: Promises and Progress

City officials, led by Mayor Dada Morero, have outlined several measures to address the crisis, though progress has been slower than promised:

Immediate Interventions

• Water Tankers: The city has deployed 20–53 water tankers to affected areas, though residents report insufficient coverage due to a shortage of drivers. Only five of the promised 15 tankers are servicing Ward 82, leaving some streets without adequate supply.
• Throttling Water Supply: To replenish depleted reservoirs, the city has implemented nighttime throttling in less-affected areas, redirecting water to high-demand zones like Coronationville. This controversial tactic has shown some progress, with reservoir levels rising from 20% to 27% in some areas.

Long-Term Solutions

• Infrastructure Investment: The city has allocated R800 million to refurbish the Commando System’s reservoirs, though completion is not expected until 2026. A new reservoir in Brixton is slated for launch in April 2026 to alleviate pressure in Auckland Park and surrounding areas.
• Pipe Replacement and Leak Management: Morero has unveiled a master plan focusing on replacing aging pipes and addressing leaks, in collaboration with the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina. This aims to reduce the 32.9% water loss from leaks.
• Borehole Initiatives: Plans are underway to install boreholes in informal settlements, schools, and clinics starting July 2025, in partnership with the provincial government. This aims to provide alternative water sources in high-need areas.
• Crackdown on Illegal Connections: The city is working with the Johannesburg Police Department to cut off illegal connections, which Morero says significantly contribute to water losses.
• Financial Reforms: Morero has promised to work with the National Treasury to ring-fence water funds, ensuring they are used for infrastructure maintenance rather than general city expenses. However, critics argue this response lacks a clear timeline.

Challenges to Implementation

Despite these efforts, challenges persist. Morero’s initial promise to restore water within seven days by September 18, 2025, was revised to three weeks after the deadline passed with dry taps in areas like Coronationville. The R4 billion funding controversy remains unresolved, with the DA and parliamentary committees demanding accountability for alleged mismanagement. Additionally, the city’s maintenance backlog, estimated at R27 billion, poses a significant hurdle to swift resolution.

Community and Political Response

• Opposition Pressure: The DA, led by MP Stephen Moore, has accused Morero of incompetence, calling for a full overhaul of Johannesburg Water and an investigation into water tanker contracts. ActionSA demands transparency and sustainable solutions, condemning alleged “water mafia” profiteering.
• Parliamentary Oversight: On September 19, 2025, Morero faced tough questions from the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation. Chairperson Leon Basson criticized the lack of ring-fenced water funds, warning of a potential “Day Zero” scenario.
• Resident Demands: Communities are calling for permanent solutions like JoJo tanks over temporary tankers, accusing Johannesburg Water of neglect and incompetence.

Looking Ahead: Can Johannesburg Overcome the Crisis?

The Johannesburg water crisis underscores deeper issues of governance, infrastructure decay, and resource mismanagement. While Mayor Dada Morero’s administration has taken steps toward resolution, the slow pace of progress and unfulfilled promises have deepened public frustration. The proposed master plan, borehole initiatives, and infrastructure investments offer hope, but their success depends on transparent funding, effective implementation, and community trust.

For residents, the crisis is more than a policy failure—it’s a daily struggle that affects health, livelihoods, and dignity. As Johannesburg approaches the 2026 local elections, the water crisis will likely remain a defining issue, with leaders like Morero and challengers such as the DA’s Helen Zille under scrutiny to deliver lasting solutions.