Latest news with #Gautengers
The Citizen
26-06-2025
- Climate
- The Citizen
Gauteng braces for another major water outage
Parts of Gauteng will face dry taps as Rand Water's 16-day reservoir maintenance affects multiple municipalities. Gautengers should brace themselves for another prolonged water outage at the end of the month as Rand Water's phase two of critical maintenance continues. City of Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba said roaming water tankers will be dispatched as and when the need arises. 'The city has been notified by Rand Water about their 16-day regulatory in section and cleaning maintenance of the Hartebeeshoek reservoir, in compliance with the dam safety regulations,' he said. 16-day reservoir maintenance Various areas will be affected, including Akasia, Akasia East and Akasia West reservoirs, Ga-Rankuwa East, Ga-Rankuwa West and Ga-Rankuwa industrial reservoirs, Kruisfontein Reservoir, Klipfontein Reservoir, Mabopane Main, Mabopane Res and Mabopane Central reservoirs, Magaliesberg/Rosslyn reservoir, Rama City meter: Rama City, Soshanguve DD reservoir, Soshanguve L reservoir and the Winterveldt reservoir. 'According to Rand Water, their team of technicians will, in the first two days of the scheduled work, isolate and test the valves before draining the reservoir into the municipal reticulation system. The draining is expected to take three days,' he said. ALSO READ: 21-day water disruptions in Joburg from next week Once the reservoir has been emptied, the team will install a bypass valve to allow the water utility to supply water by bypassing the reservoir during the period. 'Bypassing the reservoir will ensure that supply interruption is kept to a minimum, with low-lying areas continuing to receive water, albeit with low pressure. High-lying areas will have no water during the work period,' Bokaba said. The last part of the maintenance work to clean the reservoir was expected to take six days. Disinfect reservoir for three days 'Thereafter, the team will disinfect the reservoir for three days before activating supply to the impacted meters,' Bokaba said. Rand Water spokesperson Makenosi Maroo said the water utility would provide regular updates via its official communication channels and social media platforms to keep customers informed of progress. Maroo said Rand Water will be moving to the next phase of the planned maintenance scheduled to start on Monday and the last work will be completed on 18 July. ALSO READ: 14-hour water outages across Johannesburg this week 'Maintenance activities will start at different times and locations across various municipalities. In the upcoming maintenance phase, pumping capacity will be reduced at the Eikenhof, Zwartkopjes and Palmiet systems. 'Consequently, areas within the cities of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane may experience low water pressure or intermittent supply. 'The maintenance may also impact supply to the municipalities of Rand West, Mogale City, Merafong, Madibeng, Lesedi, Govan Mbeki, Rustenburg, Royal Bafokeng and nearby mines and industries.' Water outages scheduled during low consumption months Maroo said the maintenance work has been strategically scheduled during the low consumption months of May to July, to minimise disruptions and better manage the potential impact on the water supply. In the city of Johannesburg, the Eikenhof system's pumping will be reduced by 600M l/day for 48 hours and the Zwartkopjes system will have no pumping activity for the duration of the maintenance work of 50 hours.
Daily Maverick
14-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
South Africans start trickling back to Gauteng as property demand shifts
People are realising that the grass isn't always greener in Cape Town. Rising costs and infrastructure woes are driving many back to Johannesburg, where cheaper housing and stronger job prospects are reversing the semigration trend. The Wise Move 2025 Migration Report shows that 70% of South Africans prefer to move within their own provinces, with Gauteng leading internal relocations. Nearly half (48%) of interprovincial moves occur between Gauteng and the Western Cape, reflecting a persistent tug-of-war between city life and coastal allure. Most movers choose homes similar in size, though upsizing is quietly on the rise. Crucially, work – not crime – is the main reason behind 22.9% of relocations, reveals a migration story that flips the semigration narrative on its head. While the Western Cape continues to shine as a migration magnet, Gauteng, despite a net loss of residents, is quietly staging a property market comeback. Where, just three years ago, masses of Gautengers were relocating to the Western Cape, at least 25% are now making the trek back up north. For those wondering when everyone's packing up, December and school holidays remain the peak moving season. Young, ambitious movers are driving the shift Wise Move's migration report, based on more than 15,000 moves in 2024, reveals that more than half of cross-country relocations are young professionals and those with growing families, aged 25 to 44, with women making up 57% of the demographic. What's driving all this packing and unpacking? Chasing paid work (22.9%) tops the list, followed by the desire to be closer to family or a spouse (15.5%). Crime, divorce and political instability barely register, cited by less than 1% of movers, challenging some of South Africa's most persistent assumptions. In short, South Africans aren't running away – they're running towards better jobs, stronger family ties and new beginnings. 'Behind every relocation lies a wider economic ripple that reaches far beyond the four walls of a new house,' said Chante Venter, Wise Move's co-founder and CEO. Venter explained that each new resident influences property markets, local businesses and infrastructure development. These moves offer a window into where jobs are emerging and how neighbourhoods adapt. Gauteng – the paradox of loss and opportunity While Gauteng recorded a net loss of residents in 2024, it remains the beating heart of internal mobility, accounting for more than 60% of all intraprovincial moves. This reflects Gauteng's enduring role as South Africa's economic powerhouse and opportunity hub. Seeff Property Group reports that after two flat years, Gauteng's housing market is finally picking up steam. Unlike the Western Cape, where average house prices have climbed to around R1.9-million, Gauteng's prices have remained stable near R1.3-million since 2019, offering unmatched affordability and value. Entry-level homes in suburbs such as Helderkruin, Roodekrans and Soweto start as low as R450,000, with many properties below R1.21-million exempt from transfer duty – a boon for first-time buyers. Rental demand remains robust, presenting opportunities for would-be investors. The 'reverse semigration' from the Western Cape reflects financially driven returns to Gauteng's accessible property market and abundant job prospects. Christa Roos, licensee for Seeff Helderkruin, said that interest rate cuts had excited buyers, with Western Joburg suburbs offering 'excellent value', especially in the R1-million to R1.5-million range. The longstanding migration magnet The Western Cape's allure is no new thing. For more than two decades, the province has attracted skilled workers and middle- to upper-income earners seeking better service delivery, coastal lifestyle and quality education. Wise Move data shows that 71% of moves to the Western Cape are directed towards Cape Town and its immediate suburbs, while only 9% head to the Garden Route and a mere 5% to the West Coast. Western Cape's relocation hot spots The relocations were previously motivated by lifestyle factors such as less congestion, better service delivery and coastal living – as well as economic considerations such as property affordability. This long-term movement continues to shape South Africa's internal migration landscape. However, this popularity comes at a price. Dikeledi Matsaka recalled that the moment she arrived in Cape Town, she paid R60 for a phone charger she could buy for R35 in Johannesburg – her first small but telling wake-up call to the city's higher living costs. Despite the Western Cape's strong pull, drawing 32.4% of all interprovincial (relocation from one province to another within the same country) moves and losing only 15.1% of its own residents, the Gauteng-Western Cape corridor remains a two-way street. Nearly half (48%) of all interprovincial moves come from Joburg and Pretoria residents heading towards Cape Town's sea breeze, while about a quarter of Western Cape movers are heading back to Gauteng or trying their luck in Gqeberha. Urbanisation, cost and the myth of semigration The pursuit of jobs, quality education, healthcare and family support networks keeps the metropolitan allure strong, even as remote work becomes more common. Yet, for those who do make the leap to smaller towns, the experience can be transformative, if not without its own trade-offs. Crystal Macdonald, who swapped Johannesburg's daily grind for the slower pace of George, shared her perspective even though she did not want people to know about her little heaven, as they might rush there. 'Moving from Johannesburg to George was the best decision of my life,' she said. She appreciates the reliable municipal services – weekly refuse collection and traffic lights that work during load shedding – and the quality of public schools that feel like 'private schools without the fees'. However, she noted that property prices in George had skyrocketed, with rentals easily triple what she paid in Johannesburg. There's a trade-off: McDonald's no longer burns her salary on overpriced kids' meals or plastic jungle gyms. Instead, they hike real mountains, free, and local parks have well-maintained grass, rather than just cut weeds. Her story captures the paradox at the heart of South Africa's migration patterns: while the dream of a slower, safer, more connected life in smaller towns is alive, most South Africans continue to choose the opportunities and amenities of big cities. For now, urbanisation remains the dominant force, and the myth of mass 'semigration' is, for most, just that – a myth. What this means for you Whether you're a student, young professional, family, or retiree, understanding these migration and cost-of-living trends is crucial for making informed decisions: Know where the opportunities are: Gauteng is losing residents but remains a hub for affordable properties, internal movement and jobs, while the Western Cape is the biggest magnet for interprovincial movers. This insight can guide your career or investment decisions. Plan your move with realistic expectations: Urban centres such as Cape Town offer lifestyle and economic opportunities, but come with higher living costs. Researching this will help you budget and prepare for the financial realities of relocation. Recognise the limits of semigration: Despite interest in smaller towns, most moves still target metropolitan areas, driven by access to jobs, education and healthcare. Consider whether a move to a smaller town fits your priorities. Ultimately, your priorities – be it lifestyle, cost, or career – should guide your next move. The data shows South Africans are choosing stability over radical change, often moving within similar neighbourhoods and property types, but always weighing the real cost of a new beginning. DM
