-
A Joburg Water maintenance team is seen at the Yeoville water pipeline in Johannesburg after an issue was reported on 08 July 2025.
Johannesburg Water says it has invested at least R1.75 billion for the current financial year to reduce high water demand across the city, including the refurbishment of leaking reservoirs.
This comes after several demonstrations linked to the prolonged water crisis in various areas around the city including Westbury, Newclare and Soweto.
The entity’s managing director Ntshavheni Mukwevho says about 22 reservoirs need attention.
“There are 22 reservoirs that are outside the norm, which are part of our plan, where we will be doing the work in the current financial year. We are really in the process of getting contractors appointed, and we are aiming that by November, we should’ve appointed the contractors that will be working all 17 reservoir complexes that comprise of 22 reservoirs.”
Borehole scheme
Meanwhile, Joburg Water says it will implement a localised borehole scheme in high water demand areas across the city, especially in informal settlements, at the end of the month.
This is part of efforts to eliminate illegal water connections in those areas.
Mukwevho says they’ve partnered with several entities for the project.
“We appointed partners to really assist us in implementing this. They were appointed at the end of July, and we are happy to report that the drilling of the first borehole will be starting before the end of this month.”
Protests
Last month, Westbury residents took to the streets vowing to continue with their protest action until their demands for water supply are met.
Disgruntled community members took to the streets and barricaded roads with rocks and burning tyres over water outages.
They say the water supply has been inconsistent for eight years now, and they have been without water for five consecutive days.
The residents say the City of Johannesburg is undermining them, as the problem has been going on for close to a decade.
VIDEO | Westbury crippled by water shortage – a resident speaks out:
