Joburg Water's communication collapse deepens city's water crisis
Image: Bhekikhaya Mabaso / Independent Newspapers
Joburg Water's failure to effectively communicate which areas are affected by water outages due to maintenance or burst pipes is leaving residents frustrated.
The lack of communication means that residents are left unprepared for water outages. Not all residents can afford to buy water that is needed for the basics, like flushing the toilet, bathing, cooking, and cleaning.
Despite the growing water crisis in Johannesburg, the entity remains largely silent when residents need answers the most. There is a glaring absence of timely updates, clear information, and meaningful engagement, particularly during water interruptions. This silence is not an inconvenience; it is an insult to residents who deserve transparency and accountability.
Information is not filtering through to the public, and in many cases, it doesn't reach ward councillors. Ward councillors play a crucial role in keeping residents informed on service delivery issues. There seems to be a disconnect between depots on the ground and the head office. This lack of internal coordination makes bad communication even worse.
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It is unacceptable that in a city of this size, residents are still left guessing about when water will return, why there are delays, or where to find basic relief such as water tankers.
Joburg Water can learn from Rand Water on how to improve communication with residents regarding issues around water.
Pressure from the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has resulted in Rand Water improving on how it communicates with residents and municipalities regarding potential water outages.
The DA Gauteng demands that Joburg Water urgently overhaul its communication strategy, particularly on social media and public alerts. This way, councillors and communities will remain properly informed.
A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would ensure that, through the Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Joburg Water is assisted in improving how it communicates with residents regarding maintenance that could lead to water outages, the importance of using water sparingly, and burst water pipes.
Nico De Jager MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Infrastructure Development
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