Minister of Water Affairs and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane and the leadership of Rand Water addressed the media on Friday regarding the water shortages affecting parts of Gauteng.

The water shortage affecting parts of Johannesburg, Pretoria, Ekurhuleni and the West Rand has now moved into its third week.

Mokonyane acknowledged the concerns of affected residents and businesses in Gauteng. She directed Rand Water to develop a Gauteng Water Master Plan to ensure that similar crisis does not occur in the future.

 

No blame game

The minister acknowledged that it was the culmination of various factors that created the water challenge, and that there should be across the board accountability on water management in Gauteng. However Mokonyane emphasised that there is a need to move beyond the “blame game”.

 

Slight improvement

Rand Water Chief Operating Officer Sipho Mosai said that the utility’s reservoir levels are showing gradual signs of improvement and that the situation could normalise in two weeks.

 

No water restrictions

Mokonyane stressed that there will be no water restrictions implemented, but highlighted the importance of water conservation education in communities and for communities to report water leakages to their local authorities.

Residents requesting more information can contact the Rand Water Customer Service Centre on 0860 10 10 60.