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Soweto residents say they are concerned about their health amid a water crisis and infrastructure repairs
Residents of Meadowlands, Soweto, have raised concerns about the quality of water provided by water tankers. They say they have to boil it first before they can consume it.
This as taps continue to run dry following the 52-hour water shutdown for the maintenance of the Eikenhof water supply system.
For residents in some parts of Soweto and surrounding areas affected by this shutdown, water remains a precious resource. However Johannesburg Water says even though water supply is gradually coming back, it will take three to five days for water to be fully restored.
Residents say they have resorted to precautionary measures to ensure the water from tankers is safe for human consumption.
“We are very scared for ourselves and the kids as well as our health hence we are boiling the water first. The other house with working pipes sometimes does supply us with water but sometimes they are moody and lock the gate and then we are left stranded. Sometimes we are forced to buy water at the garage and we can’t afford it,” says one resident.
#RandWaterMaintenance has been completed. Water supply will gradually return over the next 3–5 days as reservoirs refill.
Direct-feed areas will be restored once the system is fully recharged.#JoburgUpdates
^LM pic.twitter.com/OCWqTXT3If— Johannesburg Water (@JHBWater) January 7, 2026
RELATED VIDEO | Residents in Joburg CBD advised to avoid tap water
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omcnVT2Ubuw
“We drink water that we have stored. The one we get from the water tank we boil them first before drinking them as we know that this water might have germs and we also reserve it for the bathrooms,” adds another resident.
Johannesburg Water spokesperson Nombuso Shabala says affected residents in parts of Soweto and Roodepoort may experience low pressure to no water as the systems build up capacity for full recovery.
#PODCAST 54 hour water shutdown hits Johannesburg as outages grow more frequent due to ailing infrastructure #sabcnews @salpatel786 #sabcnews
— SABC News Radio (@SABCNews_Radio) January 7, 2026
[ON AIR] Johannesburg faces water disruptions during Rand Water upgrades.@SakinaKamwendo is in conversation with Makenosi Maroo , Spokesperson at Rand water
#UpdateAtNoon #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/vQHozrUvdk
— SABC News Radio (@SABCNews_Radio) January 6, 2026
“This will take between three to five days. Johannesburg water continues to monitor the affected systems and will apply configuration changes in order to boost the systems. Alternative water supply will remain in place until full restoration of water supply to the affected communities,” says Shabalala.
WaterCan spokesperson Dr Ferrial Adam has called for the water utility to invest more funds in infrastructure upgrades.
“A lot more money has to go to Joburg Water. They need to do urgent repairs on our infrastructure that’s needed,” says Dr. Adam.
Johannesburg water says it will continue to monitor the system closely and provide regular updates as restoration progresses.
RELATED VIDEO | Joburg Water media briefing on Rand Water planned maintenance programme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAFrTJeRqDs
