As Gauteng grapples with a water crisis in suburban areas, the Makause informal settlement has long struggled without this basic necessity of life.

Water has become a scarce commodity for Makause residents, leaving them frustrated and worried about their health. Access to clean running water remains a pipe dream, as they rely solely on water tankers for supply.

A daily struggle for water

The lack of a reliable water supply in Makause is one of many service delivery challenges facing informal settlements.

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Residents often have to queue for water from tankers delivered by the city, leaving them unsure of when and how they will access water for their basic needs.

“Our lives are difficult. We must collect water for washing, bathing, cleaning and cooking. Sometimes, you miss the tanker because it came while you were at work. That means you have to wait for it to return or find water somewhere else. It’s stressful. We have children who need clean uniforms daily,” said one parent.

Residents further claim that the water provided is sometimes unsuitable for drinking. They describe it as salty and dirty, forcing them to buy bottled water for drinking and cooking, an added expense many cannot afford.

This crisis is not just an economic burden; it affects residents’ health, dignity and daily routines. Women and girls, who often shoulder the responsibility of fetching water for cooking, washing and cleaning, endure long queues and physical strain.

Turning scarcity into an informal economy

There have been allegations of so-called “water mafias”, with claims that overreliance on tankers has created opportunities for exploitation and profiteering. Where municipal water services fall short, economic survival often leads to informal solutions.

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At a recent press briefing in Bruma, DA Gauteng leader and MPL Solly Msimanga said the city must curb this overreliance, which, he claims, costs municipalities millions, if not billions.

“The most worrying trend holding back water supply and enabling water losses is the government’s insistence on focusing on water procurement via tankers instead of ensuring water flows through people’s taps. Cities must ring-fence water revenue and use it to upgrade infrastructure,” said Msimanga.

He added that informal settlements such as Makause should have access to water through communal taps rather than relying solely on tankers.

The CoE has faced similar challenges, with Tembisa and parts of Germiston and Benoni experiencing prolonged water outages. According to Msimanga, the growing reliance on water tankers has crippled municipalities.

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The Germiston City News sent an enquiry to the CoE regarding the cost of water tankers and its action plan for areas like Makause. No comment was received at the time of going to print.

For now, Makause residents continue to rely on survival strategies. Without reliable piped water, some buy water from private vendors or pay people with vehicles or storage capacity to fetch and transport water for them.

These practices reflect the widening gap between residents’ basic needs and inadequate public service delivery.