Johannesburg’s water disruptions are increasingly being framed as a funding problem rather than a planning problem.

Reports say Joburg Water has a turnaround strategy in place but it is not adequately supported by budget allocations needed to deliver repairs at scale.

Turnaround Plan Under Pressure

WaterCAN executive director Dr Ferrial Adam says the strategy is sound but cannot be implemented properly without secure funding.

“We know that Joburg Water has a very good turnaround strategy. The problem is that strategy does not have the support of having good budget,” Adam is quoted as saying.

She argues the metro needs a ring-fenced budget that is protected for infrastructure work, including reservoir repairs, pipe replacement and reducing non-revenue water losses.

The same report also quotes Adam claiming the utility’s financial position is affecting day-to-day operations, including the ability to pay contractors.

Infrastructure Failures and Supply Strain

Ongoing outages are linked to long-standing infrastructure issues and maintenance backlogs that require sustained spending to fix.

It also cites claims by the Johannesburg Water Crisis Committee that the city faces an estimated shortfall of about 200 million litres a day from Rand Water and that more than 4,500 pipe bursts occur each month on average.

Adam is quoted criticising public communication during the crisis, describing early messaging as “cut and paste” and saying residents were not receiving clear, consistent updates.

National Spotlight Increases Accountability

The water crisis has moved onto the national agenda, with President Cyril Ramaphosa saying the key challenge is not water availability but getting water to taps. He also announced a National Water Crisis Committee he will chair.

It further reports that Ramaphosa signalled stronger accountability measures, including possible legal action against municipalities and in some cases municipal managers for failing to meet legal obligation