The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) took to the streets on Monday, staging a protest outside the Johannesburg Water offices to demand urgent action on the Johannesburg Water Crisis. The EFF Protests at Johannesburg Water Offices brought attention to the worsening water shortages affecting both affluent suburbs and townships across the city, with the party blaming corruption and infrastructure neglect for the crisis.
EFF Protests at Johannesburg Water Offices: Demands for Immediate Water Crisis Resolution
During the protest, EFF leaders delivered a memorandum of demands to Johannesburg Water executives, calling for a sustainable and reliable water supply for all residents. The party has accused Johannesburg Water and the City of Johannesburg of gross mismanagement, corruption, and infrastructural neglect, which they claim have led to the ongoing crisis.
In an official statement released on Saturday, the EFF Gauteng Provincial Chairperson, Nkululeko Dunga, underscored the urgency of the matter:
“The picket lines dictate that we actually march against Johannesburg Water today, demanding the reconnection of water supply to the northern suburbs, including Midrand and Fourways, as well as the Johannesburg CBD, which has been without water for a long time.”
Johannesburg Water Crisis: A Humanitarian Emergency
The EFF has raised concerns that the worsening Johannesburg Water Crisis could escalate into a full-scale humanitarian emergency. According to the party’s statement, the crisis stems from systemic failures, including:
- Decades of infrastructure neglect
- Rampant corruption within Johannesburg Water
- Electricity cuts affecting water pumps
- Tampering with water infrastructure
- A growing population outstripping supply
- Unconstitutional removal of water meters
Dunga criticized Johannesburg Water for what he described as an “unconstitutional policy” of removing water meters, thereby restricting access to water in many communities. He called for an immediate intervention, stating that access to water is a fundamental human right.
Corruption Allegations and the Role of Water Tanker Mafias
The EFF has pointed to widespread corruption as a key factor in the Johannesburg Water Crisis. The party alleges that politically connected individuals are profiting from water shortages by controlling private water tankers.
“As the water crisis deepens, politically connected water tanker mafias continue to exploit the suffering of the people, raking in millions through outrageously inflated costs and a deeply corrupt tender system,” the statement read.
The EFF further revealed that in 2024 alone, the City of Johannesburg spent over R263 million hiring 70 water tankers from just two private companies, raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability.
Documented Infrastructure Failures
The EFF’s statement provided evidence of repeated infrastructure failures that have worsened the Johannesburg Water Crisis. Some of the most critical breakdowns include:
- Eikenhof Pump Station disruptions in November 2024 caused a week-long water outage.
- Zwartkoppies Pump Station maintenance in December 2024, which took over a week to restore water supply.
- February 2025 power failures at Eikenhof and Emfuleni plants affecting over 60% of Johannesburg’s population for nearly a month.
These incidents highlight the dire state of Johannesburg’s water infrastructure and the urgent need for investment and maintenance.
EFF’s Service Delivery Month Initiative
EFF national spokesperson Sinawo Tambo stressed that the issue is not a lack of water but rather poor leadership and management.
“There’s been intermittent blockages and outages of water across Johannesburg. Whether you’re in Sandton, Soweto, Alexandra, or Orange Farm, people can go days or even weeks without water,” said Tambo.
The EFF views the water shortages as a clear violation of basic human rights and has pledged to continue fighting for better service delivery.
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The EFF Protests at Johannesburg Water Offices underscore the deepening frustration among residents over persistent water shortages and mismanagement. The party’s demands for accountability, infrastructure investment, and an end to corruption reflect growing public discontent with the City of Johannesburg’s handling of the crisis.
As the pressure mounts, Johannesburg Water and city officials will need to respond decisively to prevent further escalation of what is rapidly becoming one of the most pressing service delivery issues in South Africa.
