Johannesburg: Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says a R760 million infrastructure investment upgrade is underway in the city of Johannesburg to permanently resolve water issues. Delivering the State of the Province Address at Nasrec in Johannesburg on Monday, the Premier said the upgrades will be implemented over a phased approach.
According to South African Government News Agency, the construction of a new ground reservoir and a tower in Brixton is underway and will go live by this Saturday to improve water supply. Also, an emergency boosting pumping station will go live next week. The permanent solution will be realized once the construction of the 5km pipeline is concluded at the end of the year. Furthermore, the national government is assisting in realizing the return on investment made, so that the people of Hammanskraal, Bronkhorspruit, Kokosi, Fochville, Kwa-Thema, and other areas can have their dignity restored.
Lesufi said the challenge was not water availability, but the interruptions caused by infr
astructure failures, leaks, and high-demand peaks. Efforts are being made by the three spheres of government to address the water challenges in the province. An expansion of water infrastructure is nearing completion to prepare for additional water from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, aiming to secure water supply permanently.
On January 27, 2026, Johannesburg faced an unexpected water shortage due to an explosion at the Rand Water plant, followed by a fire and a burst pipe. The affected area was rectified within 72 hours. The President deployed a Ministerial team, and the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, authorized Rand Water to extract more water from the Vaal River Integrated Water System.
Midrand was the first suburban area to suffer but now has fully restored water supply. In Soweto, progress is noted except for Meadowlands Zones 3 and 4. In the West Rand, water has been restored in Kagiso and surrounding areas. Ekurhuleni’s water supply is now stable, except for Bedfordview, Tsak
ane, and parts of Kwa-Thema, including Tshwane, Sedibeng, and West Rand.
Some areas with a full supply may experience nighttime throttling to allow system recovery. These areas include Kensington, Bezuidenhout Valley, Bruma, and Berea. Instability persists in areas supplied through the Commando System and the Brixton Towers. Parts of Westdene, Coronationville, Sophiatown, Melville, Emmarentia, and sections of Doornkop remain challenging.
To prevent sporadic water shortages, investment in water storage was prioritized. In Midrand, a new facility is being built to house 20 million liters, with private developers donating an additional 10 million liters. Similar investments are underway in Ekurhuleni, Tshwane, and West Rand municipalities.
Lesufi emphasized the need for constant monitoring and support to address water challenges and apologized to residents for the inconveniences caused, reaffirming commitment to a permanent resolution.