Rand Water’s third phase maintenance programme underway in Joburg

A closed water tap.

The third and final phase of Rand Water’s planned maintenance programme is underway in Johannesburg. The 54-hour water shutdown will affect areas including Roodepoort, Fleurhof, Doornkop, Meadowlands and Braamfischerville.

Johannesburg Water has urged residents to store water and use it sparingly as the system could take up to seven days to fully recover.

Civil Society group, WaterCan’s Communications Manager, Jonathan Erasmus, has welcomed the move aimed at improving the reliability of the water supply system, but says there is still significant underinvestment in water infrastructure.

“The backlog in the city is R33 billion. They’ve also maintained that they’ve got to spend R3 billion a year to get on top of it and they’re only spending R1.6 billion, but definitely the maintenance must happen and the maintenance schedule must take place. The Municipal Finance Management Act requires municipalities to spend about 8% of total investments on the ground, and many are not meeting that. And I think that is the big worry, that this kind of underinvestment in repair and maintenance has been systemic, maybe close to two decades long. So, maintenance absolutely necessary, a little too late but at least some of it is happening right now.”

#JoburgUpdates #RandWaterMaintenance from 6-8 Jan 2026 will interrupt water supply in parts of Soweto (Region D)

Johannesburg Water will supply alternative water to affected areas. Find your nearest collection point below.

🚰Alternative water supply locations: pic.twitter.com/pOfB0Zug8H

— Johannesburg Water (@JHBWater) January 5, 2026