Johannesburg Water Outage – Residents are set to experience a significant water outage as Johannesburg Water teams conduct an extensive 83-hour planned maintenance operation. The water supply interruption is scheduled to begin at 7:00 on Monday, 17 February, and will continue until 6:00 on Thursday, 20 February.
Johannesburg Water to Conduct 83-Hour Maintenance
Johannesburg Water has confirmed that the maintenance will involve a structural diagnostic survey to assess and improve water infrastructure in affected areas. However, it remains unclear whether water tankers will be deployed to assist residents during the outage.
Areas Affected by the Johannesburg Water Outage
Residents in several suburbs will face a complete water supply disruption for the duration of the maintenance. The affected areas include:
- Kensington
- Kensington South
- Denver
- George Goch
- Malvern East
- Jeppestown
- Cleveland
- Malvern
Johannesburg Water has advised residents in these areas to store sufficient water in advance and use water sparingly throughout the maintenance period.
DA Lodges Human Rights Complaint Over Johannesburg Water Outage
The planned maintenance comes amid ongoing water supply challenges in Johannesburg. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has lodged a formal complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) against Johannesburg Water, citing the persistent water crisis affecting the city.
The DA has highlighted that many residents have endured erratic water supply for weeks, with some areas experiencing complete water shortages for up to three weeks. According to DA Johannesburg leader Jack Bloom, some residents rely on minimal night-time water flow or chase limited water tankers to meet their basic needs.
Rand Water and Water Throttling in Johannesburg
Johannesburg Water introduced water throttling in 2024 as a measure to manage dwindling reservoir levels. Rand Water, which supplies water to Gauteng, has reported a severe decline in reservoir levels, dropping from 70% to below 40% over the past month.
Bloom has emphasized that the Johannesburg Council is in violation of Section 27(1)(b) of the Constitution, which guarantees every South African the right to sufficient water. The DA has provided the SAHRC with hundreds of testimonials from residents detailing the devastating impact of the ongoing Johannesburg Water outages, including:
- Challenges in maintaining hygiene and sanitation
- Difficulty in flushing toilets and preparing food
- Increased health risks and illnesses
- Financial strain on households and businesses
Call for Government Intervention
The DA is urging the Gauteng provincial government to declare a state of disaster and implement emergency measures to assist residents affected by the Johannesburg Water outage. These measures include deploying additional water tankers and addressing the root causes of the city’s persistent water crisis.
Also Read: Vodacom Fights SA Water Crisis with Smart Meters & Digital Solutions
With Johannesburg Water set to conduct an 83-hour maintenance operation, residents in affected areas should brace for a prolonged water outage. While this planned maintenance aims to improve infrastructure, the broader issue of Johannesburg’s water crisis remains a pressing concern. As political and legal actions intensify, Johannesburg residents continue to demand urgent and sustainable solutions to ensure their access to reliable water supply.
