The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation criticized Johannesburg’s mayor for inadequate action on the water crisis, highlighting funding issues, contractor payment delays, and the high non-revenue water rate.
The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation is concerned about the City of Johannesburg’s mayor not taking the water shortage issue seriously. They recently met with representatives from the City, Johannesburg Water, Rand Water, and the Department of Water and Sanitation. Mr. Leon Basson, the committee’s Chairperson, stated that the municipality lacks clarity on how to intervene and has not provided clear timelines for funding Johannesburg Water’s infrastructure needs, estimated at around R26.61 billion, which may grow due to insufficient funding.
The committee highlighted that the municipality cannot explain the R4 billion reportedly redirected from Joburg Water, which could have been invested in vital water infrastructure. They insisted that funding for Joburg Water must be secured to maintain its infrastructure. Additionally, the delay in paying contractors for essential projects is unacceptable, leading many to leave sites unfinished, further threatening water access for residents.
Mr. Basson urged the municipality to urgently redirect funds to Joburg Water to support its capital budget. He stressed that enhancing Joburg Water’s capacity is critical and must be addressed quickly. The committee is also troubled by a high non-revenue water rate of 44.8%, which hampers revenue generation for infrastructure development.
Meanwhile, the City is working to supply water through trucks to residents facing shortages, aiming to combat water mafias looking to exploit municipal resources. The committee recognized that while there is a viable plan in place for Joburg Water, sufficient funding is crucial for its success.
To address these issues, the committee plans to invite the National Treasury to discuss Trading Services Reforms and their timelines and will seek an analysis from the Office of the Auditor-General regarding the redirected R4 billion.
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