Joburg growth pushes water system to breaking point: Morero

Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero.

Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero says the city’s rapid growth over the past decade has added strain to its water supply. Residents are bearing the brunt of the crisis, facing crippling water cuts and shortages.

South Africa as a whole grapples with a dire water crisis, driven by crumbling infrastructure, drought, and high consumption, particularly in Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Limpopo.

Morero earlier spoke to the SABC regarding tackling the crisis at hand. He says they are working on building new structures while repairing the old reservoirs in Joburg.

“It is not correct to say nothing has been done . A reservoir in region-b in Brixton has been completed, it means in that area there is now extra capacity to be able to store water. But we must also accept the system itself in some instances would collapse as a result of power failure or any other reasons that may cause it to collapse. Our task then is to ensure that we intervene should the need arise point. You must also accept that Joburg has grown and the city must catch up in terms of its water and sewer infrastructure.”

WATCH | Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero says the city’s rapid growth over the past decade has added strain to its water supply, and they are working on building new structures while repairing the old reservoirs. pic.twitter.com/jLf65jkWmt

— SABC News (@SABCNews) February 9, 2026