JOHANNESBURG – Frustration is boiling over in parts of Johannesburg as residents spend the festive season without water, despite authorities citing planned Rand Water maintenance as the cause of the ongoing outages.
Residents across affected areas say they were not adequately informed that the maintenance would leave them without water for days, particularly during the holidays, leaving households unprepared and scrambling for alternatives.
Communities in Johannesburg, including Diepsloot, Fourways and Midrand, have reported dry taps, forcing families to rely on water tankers, boreholes and costly bottled water to meet basic daily needs.
Civil society organisations have criticised the lack of clear and transparent communication, saying communities were once again left in the dark about the extent and duration of the water shutdowns. While maintenance notices were issued, residents argue these failed to clearly communicate the real impact on water supply.
The outages have disrupted holiday plans and raised concerns about hygiene and health, especially for families with children. Small businesses have also reported losses due to the lack of reliable water supply.
Civil society groups are calling on Rand Water, Johannesburg Water and municipal authorities to improve public communication, provide realistic timelines and ensure effective contingency measures during major maintenance periods.
As residents wait for water supply to be fully restored, concerns continue to grow about accountability and long-term solutions to Johannesburg’s recurring water challenges.