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Residents filling up water bottles.
Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo says the water crisis in South Africa is a deep-rooted issue that cannot be resolved instantly.
Major cities like Johannesburg are seriously affected. Melville, Westdene, Brixton, and parts of Midrand have endured weeks without a consistent water supply, leading to frustration and widespread protests.
Ageing infrastructure, high demand and systemic management failures are driving South Africa’s water crisis.
Mahlabo has acknowledged that long-term infrastructure renewal and improved municipal capacity are essential to resolve water challenges.”
“We just have to be open to citizens; the system is going to remain vulnerable. Our preoccupation now is to stabilise it. It’s going to have faults because there are a number of challenges in the system. Our main concern for now is just to stabilise it. But at the very same time there are areas where we are trying to stabilise in Johannesburg, but there’s no pumping that’s there; it’s not going to be an easy solution. This thing of load reduction they must deploy as a matter of urgency short-term contractors to fix the leaks.”
Update on water cuts across the country with Deputy Min. David Mahlobo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqHtlOpNlfA
Load shifting
Mahlobo says the water supply has returned to some parts of Pretoria following the implementation of load shifting.
However, he cautions that the system remains vulnerable.
Mahlobo says they will try to stabilise the system, but they are expecting some faults due to several challenges. He’s also highlighted that in the next two months, they will be delivering two additional water treatment works that will reduce the pressure on the Rand Water system in Tshwane.
During his State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that government will establish a National Water Crisis Committee, which he will chair, to tackle water issues in the country.
SA Water crisis | Melville residents demand water supply:
