Johannesburg's infrastructure is at a critical juncture. Over the past fifteen years, the city has witnessed minimal replacement of water infrastructure, according to an expert.
As a result, many of these essential assets have now reached the end of their design life, leading to a growing sense of urgency for substantial renewal efforts to address the significant backlog.
Speaking to The Star, water expert Professor Mike Muller, a civil engineer and professor at the University of the Witwatersrand Graduate School of Governance, laid bare the scale of Johannesburg’s water woes, from collapsing infrastructure and the heavy economic toll of supply failures to the urgent interventions needed to pull the city back from the brink of a full-blown water catastrophe.
Joburg, and other parts of Gauteng, are in the grip of a deepening water crisis, with thousands of residents enduring repeated and prolonged supply cuts while the city battles staggering levels of non-revenue water lost through leaks, illegal connections, and a crumbling system that can no longer keep up with demand.
This has led to widespread protests in the affected areas.
Muller noted that Johannesburg has done little to replace ageing infrastructure over the past 15 years, leaving the city with a massive renewal backlog.“Infrastructure should be regularly replaced when it reaches the end of its design life. In Johannesburg, there has been very little replacement in the last fifteen years.
''Substantial renewal is now needed to catch up with the backlog.”
He added that as pipes begin to fail, more water is lost to breaks and leaks. Emphasising the cause of many of the supply interruptions and shortages that Johannesburg is now experiencing.
Muller stated that water losses drive up costs for users, and fixing the backlog could lead to higher tariffs.
“Johannesburg water users are paying for the water that is currently being lost. Less losses could mean reduced tariffs. But now, they will have to pay the cost of catching up with the backlog, which may mean increased tariffs,” he shared, also highlighting that Johannesburg will likely have to borrow money to pay for accelerated network replacement, with National Treasury already looking at ways to arrange this.
He explained that while citizens have a constitutional right to a basic water supply, which may be subsidised for poor households, balancing this with widespread non-payment is challenging, emphasising that rights come with responsibilities.
“Citizens have the right to a basic water supply, which may be subsidised for poor households. But rights come with responsibilities. We all have a responsibility to pay for what we take beyond that basic amount.
''After giving fair warning, the City authorities should enforce payment. They should restrict non-payers’ supply to the ‘basic’ level and, if necessary, cut off repeat offenders.''
South Africa's non-payment culture stems from the apartheid era, where boycotting services was a form of protest against the oppressive system.
This practice persisted and evolved into a habit for some after democracy, driven by factors like poverty, a lack of trust in government to deliver quality services, and the perception that municipalities are inefficient.
This widespread non-payment for services like water and electricity severely impacts municipal finances, leading to a cycle of poor service delivery and further eroding trust and compliance.
''Care must be taken, though, to provide for all households on multi-occupied stands,” Muller added.
Joburg Water’s Managing Director, Ntshavheni Mukwevho, previously told IOL that the city is operating on a tight margin, with water demand frequently surpassing available supply.
He noted that the overburdened system is prone to interruptions from technical glitches and occasional electricity load reductions, which limit pumping capacity. “We are operating with a temporary license and at a fragile equilibrium,” he explained.
“Peak demands quickly drain reservoir levels, and any electromechanical disruption or cable theft can cripple supply capacity.”
In response to the escalating crisis, Parliament on Friday gave Joburg Mayor Dada Morero and Joburg Water just 14 days to deliver concrete solutions to the crippling supply cuts, issuing a stark warning to the city’s key water suppliers.
This comes in the wake of fresh protests sparked by ongoing water outages, with frustrated communities taking their anger to the streets. In Ivory Park Extension 2, residents used burning tyres, dustbins, and rubble to block roads, grinding morning traffic to a halt as they demanded a reliable water supply.
The Department of Water and Sanitation pointed to multiple pressures straining Johannesburg’s water system, citing rapid population growth, ageing infrastructure, recurring droughts, and the impact of climate variability as key drivers of the crisis.
Joburg Water’s Managing Director, Ntshavheni Mukwevho, previously told IOL that the city is operating on a tight margin, with water demand frequently surpassing available supply.
He noted that the overburdened system is prone to interruptions from technical glitches and occasional electricity load reductions, which limit pumping capacity.
“We are operating with a temporary license and at a fragile equilibrium,” he explained.
“Peak demands quickly drain reservoir levels, and any electromechanical disruption or cable theft can cripple supply capacity.”
Previously, Morero pledged R800 million to resolve the ongoing water crisis.
The Star
masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za