‘Law enforcement will help ensure reduced water consumption in Jhb’

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says they want to bring in the law enforcement agencies to assist in reducing water consumption.

This comes after Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina announced that Johannesburg Water will be throttling distribution between 9pm and 4am from Thursday until the water system has fully recovered.

Speaking at the same media briefing in Johannesburg yesterday, Lesufi says, “We want to make sure that our law enforcements don’t just pass when they see somebody watering either a garden during the day or somebody washing their cars, with a hosepipe during the day. We want to strengthen the law enforcement agency part of it, so we are bringing the law enforcement agencies to say, lets plan together, plan from the centre.”

He says, “The sooner we change the attitude the better and we don’t want to use a carrot and stick approach where so that we just have to switch off people so that they can realise  that they don’t have water, we really believe we need to invest in a high level communication programme.”

Lesufi adds, “So the message to the resident of Gauteng is simple, we have to reduce consumption of water at a faster pace. If we can’t do that, the system will not be in a position to carry us for a longer period. So, it’s in our best interest that the consumption of water is reduced.”

“There is a red light that Rand Water has given, we are not only above the red light, we are far above the red light, so we need to just go back toward that red light. The last time we were reasonably above that red light was in 2023. It is an indication that we can pull back the consumption and the restrictions that Johannesburg is introducing because if we can get Johannesburg right, it will be easier to get other municipalities right.”

Lesufi also added that the province will introduce an indigent register to help them confront consumers who can afford to pay for services and protect those who cannot.

He says the register will be linked to all the municipalities in the province.

[Watch live] Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms Pemmy Majodina hosts press briefing on water supply challenges and interventions in Johannesburg #SavewaterSA #GovZAupdates #ServiceDeliveryZA

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