Latest news with #JoburgWater
The Citizen
4 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
JRA still battles with reinstatements as completion rate is at 79%
JRA still battles with reinstatements as completion rate is at 79% The Joburg Crisis Alliance (JCA) is urging the City of Johannesburg to improve its management and execution of road and pavement reinstatements, following a significant backlog in repairs. Reinstatements are necessary after excavations are made for services or repairs, which often require digging up roads and pavements, particularly by Joburg Water (JW). Once JW completes its water pipe repairs, the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) is expected to promptly reinstate and restore the affected areas, said programme coordinator for the JCA, Yunus Chamda. Read more: Councillor calls on JRA for action in Fairland He added that the JCA had observed numerous sites across the city that presented a serious threat to public safety. 'After some time, the red tape that demarcates the danger at a site disappears, and the area becomes unsafe.' Chamda said that internal arrangements have shifted the responsibility for reinstatement from JW to the JRA, a move that JCA acknowledges as logical, given the differing expertise required for water and road repairs. 'Despite this, the city appears to have fallen behind, resulting in a substantial backlog of reinstatements.' JRA head of regional operations Khaya Gqibitole provided insights into their efforts to address the backlog. 'The JRA has teams across all seven regions responsible for repairing road defects, including reinstatements,' he stated. Currently, the completion rate for reinstatements from the backlog stands at 79%. However, Gqibitole noted that ongoing excavations by Joburg Water complicated the situation. 'Joburg Water continues to excavate roads as part of maintaining critical water and sewer infrastructure; therefore, the repair or reinstatement of roads is a moving target.' In terms of specific regions, Gqibitole highlighted that Regions B and F have the highest number of reinstatements on the backlog list. The completion rate for reinstatements in Region B is also at 79%. The JRA is committed to addressing all road defects in Region B, including reinstatements, and efforts will be intensified through the Executive Mayor Dada Morero's War on Potholes programme, which is set to continue in Region B until the end of July 2025. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Zawya
6 days ago
- Politics
- Zawya
South Africa: Human Settlements Committee Receives Update on Petitions With Varying Degrees of Satisfaction
The Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements has received updates from the Department of Human Settlements, the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, and the City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane and City of Cape Town on various petitions the committee is considering and has highlighted mixed reactions to the reports. The committee remains of the view that all stakeholders must not rest on their laurels in bringing finality to the petitions. SLOVO PARK INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS UPGRADING The committee welcomed the progress made by both the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements and the City of Johannesburg, including the completion of the electrification of households. Also, the committee welcomed the appointment of Joburg Water for the installation of water and sewage infrastructure. The committee has highlighted that in the context of the history of the promises made to the residents of Slovo Park, the movement is welcomed, albeit long overdue. The committee also welcomed the collaboration between the City of Johannesburg and the provincial department to achieve the medium and long-term interventions planned for the area. The committee has also urged all stakeholders to expedite procurement and other related processes to ensure the achievement of targets. Also, the committee welcomed the assurance that community engagements and sharing of information with residents have been enhanced to ensure a free flow of information between the government and the people. 'The issue of stakeholder engagement is critical to allay fears and eliminate any flare-up of protests. It is critical that as new developments arise and some impediments delay projects, people are informed,' said Mr Nocks Seabi, the Chairperson of the committee. MAWIGA PETITION Members of the committee were disappointed with the slow response to finding solutions to the petitioners' challenges. While the committee acknowledged that there is progress with sites identified and agreed to by two petitioners, the fact that the building of top structures will only commence next year is concerning. Despite this, the committee called for clear monitoring of the progress to ensure that timelines are adhered to, especially in the context of the length of time it has taken to get to this point. The MAWIGA (Mabopane, Winterveld and Ga-Rankuwa petitioners) submitted a petition alleging maladministration against the City of Tshwane and North West Housing Corporation officials for illegally selling and transferring their properties without their consent. The committee has called on the City of Tshwane and the Gauteng Provincial Government to expedite the processes to obtain the clearance certificate on the identified land for Mr Mere. The committee has mandated the city to provide regular progress reports on processes to obtain the clearance certificate. With regards to the North West Provincial Government, the committee is concerned that the Rustenburg Municipality does not have the appetite to approve a house on the military veteran's quantum on the site identified because the site is on prime land. The committee has called on the department to heighten engagement to ensure that an alternative site is found and that Mr Kgasoe is engaged to ascertain that he agrees with the site. Despite these challenges, the committee noted that commendable work has been done to resolve the petitions. New Mandela Square (Western Cape) The committee has welcomed commendable progress in achieving the project milestones promised to the committee. Despite this, the committee has called for mechanisms to ensure that the implementation of the projects is not hampered by inter-departmental dependencies, such as the procurement of private land and installation of bulk services. The committee is cognisant that in most cases, projects are affected by delays from varying spheres of government and has called for proactive measures to ensure that this does not hamper progress. The committee remains committed to receiving regular reports to ensure the resolution of the various petitions being considered by the committee. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
The Citizen
12-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Johannesburg Water silent as Sunninghill residents foot the bill for burst pipes
Johannesburg Water (JW) has remained silent on allegations that contract issues within the utility have led to repair delays, forcing Sunninghill residents to spend thousands of rands out of their own pockets to restore water supply. On July 3, questions were sent to JW spokesperson Nolwazi Dhlamini, and cc'd to Puleng Mopeli, requesting clarity on the utility's procurement status, and response to concerns raised by Ward 93 councillor Vino Reddy. 'Reddy has raised concerns over JW's procurement issues, which have led to delays in repairs, forcing residents to purchase parts and materials at their own expense. According to Reddy, JW's contract issues have resulted in residents paying over R3 500 for parts and materials to fix the pipe leak. Also read: Joburg Water still has no timeframe for fixing the Pritchard Street leak 'The outage was at Marise Crescent. Can you confirm the status of your procurement contract and explain the reasons behind its expiration? How do you respond to allegations that your temporary contract arrangements have caused delays in repairs and inconvenience to residents in Marise Crescent? What does the law say about residents who fix JW pipe leaks, and what is your reaction to that? We know, with JRA, it is illegal for residents to fix potholes,' reads the email by Fourways Review. In the meantime, residents of Marise Crescent have taken matters into their own hands, after a second pipe burst on July 1 left them without water, again. 'In an act of desperation, the kind residents have bought the pipes and materials to effect the repairs,' said Reddy. 'Just so they can get water. It's a crying shame that residents have to dip into their own pockets and fork out over R3 500 to purchase these parts and materials.' Also read: Year-long water leak still unfixed Reddy said the burst comes just days after the previous one was repaired over the weekend. While one home has since been reconnected, frustration continues to grow among community members who feel let down by the city. Reddy blamed ongoing procurement issues within JW, saying that since January, the utility has been operating under temporary arrangements that are clearly not meeting demand. The councillor also raised concerns over ageing infrastructure, saying he has repeatedly asked the utility to replace failing pipes in the area. Also read: Sunninghill residents buy water pipes as Joburg Water fails to deliver 'I met with the Sunninghill community, JW Zandfontein depot management team, and Region A CRUM on site at Peltier to discuss the constant bursts on Peltier and Marise turns. I have been requesting, for the past two years, that these pipes be renewed, but it has come to nothing.' He said, although officials had initially promised to replace the problematic pipes by early June, that commitment has yet to be honoured. 'Parts and materials shortages have ensured that this doesn't happen.' At the time of publication, JW had not responded to the allegations despite following up. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Mail & Guardian
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Mail & Guardian
Dry humour isn't funny
Dribs and drabs: Suburbs in the east of Joburg have spent eight days and counting without water. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy It is early on Monday morning and I wake to the sound of a rumble of thunder and a flash of lightning. This is followed by the unmistakable sound of raindrops on the roof. The promised cold front has arrived. Ignoring the icy cold I leap out of bed and rush outside barefoot to check that my primitive water collection system is in place. The old plastic rubbish bin and the vintage zinc bathtub have to be positioned correctly to catch the maximum amount of water running down from my leaking gutters. The reason for this frantic early morning activity is that our suburb is one of the many that have been affected by the ongoing water crisis. The east of Joburg has been particularly badly hit recently and I have not had water for at least eight days since the one day where there was a weak trickle from the taps. Before that there was no water for three or four days at a time and when there was water it was switched off at night in what Joburg Water terms 'throttling'. This violent-sounding nocturnal activity is to allow our much-abused reservoir to recover and fill to a level where at least some areas can get some water the next day. The result of this situation is that my vast collection of five-litre plastic bottles that I spent the summer months filling with rainwater has been depleted and flushing the toilet is becoming a problem. An attack by a nasty stomach bug that required multiple toilet flushings didn't help. So the unseasonal rainfall was perfectly timed but unfortunately it didn't last long and a pathetic amount of water was collected. Disconsolately I go back inside and check that there is enough water in the kettle for a cup of coffee, making sure to divert my eyes from the counter piled high with dirty dishes, pots, cutlery, glasses and mugs. To do the washing-up requires a visit to a friend's house to collect multiple bottles of water. Back home I must heat up water in the kettle and in pots on the stove to clear the unsavoury mess in the kitchen. Grudgingly I fill the dogs' water bowl while delivering a stern lecture on their reckless water consumption. I pour a small glass of water to wash down my blood pressure pills and make sure there is enough left to rinse after brushing my teeth. It is time for the first news diary meeting of the week and once again I tell my colleagues how lucky they are that this is a remote meeting and none of them have to be confined in a small office space with me. A daily shower in the morning is a distant memory so personal hygiene standards have dropped. There is a discussion about how the water crisis is a major story and we have to cover it. But we have done this so many times before that the problem is how to present it in a different way that will make people want to read it. There is no easy solution to this problem so I return to the kitchen in the hope that there is enough water in the kettle for a second cup of coffee. Like a moth to a flame I check on the Water Crisis: Time for Action WhatsApp group. There are 109 new messages, mostly from people saying that there is still no water in their street. There is a map with a growing red line marking the areas that don't have water. There are messages filled with angry words in capital letters. There are plans to hold protests and to visit the offices of those responsible for this shocking lack of basic services. There are many posts about the whereabouts of the elusive water tankers, and many pictures of people filling up containers. The unusual sight of people pushing wheelbarrows filled with plastic bottles down the tree-lined suburban streets has become a familiar one. And there are alarming stories about how air being pushed through the pipes keeps your meter ticking over even though there is no water. In among all this I come across an official statement: 'Today, MMC Jack Sekwaila conducted a site inspection at the Alexandra Park Reservoir with Johannesburg water officials, including Ops GM Mzakhwe Mtshweni. The visit formed part of the city's efforts to accelerate water recovery in affected areas and assess the condition of critical pipeline infrastructure. During the inspection, severe blockages were discovered — caused by illegal dumping, vandalism, and misuse of underground systems. In a concerning development, some underground chambers are being accessed and used as shelter by unhoused individuals, highlighting a deeper human and infrastructure crisis.' In desperate need of distraction I page through a cookery book looking for a new one-pot recipe to make for supper. Perhaps a hearty minestrone soup that the family can spoon from the communal pot. I need to shop for ingredients and the trip to the supermarket takes me down one of the main streets of the suburb. For more than a month it has been reduced to one lane by a series of large craters, the result of ongoing work to repair several sewage pipe leaks. It is not surprising to see nasty grey-green water bubbling up from a new hole in the road. The good news is that I have a gas stove to cook the meal on because there is another fault at the local substation and the power is out. At this stage it is like water off a duck's back.
The Citizen
06-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
City of Joburg billing failure wrongly connects meters, costs resident thousands
What started as a minor billing query last June turned into a year-long nightmare for Peter Maher, a resident in Orange Grove, who found himself paying thousands of rands each month for his neighbour's water consumption. Despite repeated complaints and formal appeals, the mix-up was only recently resolved – but not before costing Maher dearly, both financially and emotionally. Read more: Johannesburg Water is building a valve chamber on 16th Street and 1st Avenue in Parkhurst The trouble began in June 2024 when Maher noticed an unexpected surge in his water bill. 'My usual water bill is around R1 000 a month as I live alone,' he explained, 'but suddenly my bills jumped to R6 000 and sometimes even R8 000 a month.' Upon investigating, he discovered that his account was being charged for the water meter belonging to his neighbour at 19 5th Street. Despite early reports to Johannesburg City customer services in August 2024, it took until November for a meter reader to confirm that Maher's account included the neighbour's new-style water meter readings – a finding that should have resolved the issue swiftly. Instead, confusion and bureaucratic delays set in. 'Joburg Water sent SMSs saying the matter was closed and the billing was correct, even though their own meter reader's report contradicted that,' Maher said. The impact on Maher was severe. Unable to keep up with inflated bills, his electricity was cut off in May 2025 due to non-payment. He had to borrow money to settle his outstanding account and have power restored. The prolonged stress of the situation took a toll on his health. Attempts to resolve the matter through the City of Johannesburg's Ombudsman proved fruitless, with little to no feedback provided. Maher grew increasingly frustrated, suspecting internal blockages and systemic inefficiencies. 'It felt like being passed from pillar to post with no one taking responsibility.' The situation only turned around after a media inquiry and an on-site inspection in May 2025. Johannesburg Water officially acknowledged the error. According to spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala, 'An internal investigation identified that the water meter from 19 5th Street had been mistakenly linked to 21 5th Street due to a data entry error. This was corrected on May 23, and all incorrect charges will be reversed.' Also read: Water restored after Rosebank pipe burst Following media involvement, the issue was resolved swiftly. Maher received his municipal account on May 27 and confirmed that his correct meter number now appears on the bill. He has also been credited with the amount he was wrongly charged. 'It's a huge relief to finally see my correct meter on the account and to have been credited the correct amount. But it's incredibly disappointing that it took media involvement to get the city to take action. This should have been resolved months ago.' This case highlights broader concerns about the efficiency and reliability of municipal billing systems in Johannesburg. Residents complain that billing errors cause undue financial strain and stress, with many facing disconnections despite being law-abiding ratepayers. It raises urgent questions about accountability and the need for stronger oversight to protect vulnerable community members. Ward councillor Eleanor Hugget said the issue was part of a wider problem, with many Johannesburg residents facing ongoing stress due to repeated billing errors and poor resolution from the city. She described the system as inefficient, with residents often pushed from one department to another without proper help, forcing them to pay large sums to avoid service disconnections. Hugget called the situation unacceptable and a form of abuse. For Maher, the resolution brings closure, but also a sense of injustice. 'I'm glad it's finally been sorted out, but it shouldn't take the media to get basic service delivery. I just want to make sure no one else has to go through what I did.' Residents are urged to scrutinise their municipal accounts and report any anomalies immediately and regularly. The city's billing departments face mounting pressure to ensure transparency, responsiveness, and fairness for all. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! Related article: Water disruption in Rosebank and surrounding areas due to emergency repairs At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
