Meeting with minister provides solutions for water crisis in Johannesburg south
After the ongoing water crisis in Johannesburg south, residents are given answers to their question of “When will we have water?”
A high-level meeting was called with the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, Chief Whip of Joburg Council, Sithembiso Zungu, various officials from Rand Water and Joburg Water and ward councillors of Johannesburg south to get to the bottom of the water crisis experienced by residents in Johannesburg south.
The start of efforts put in for solutions
On September 13, ward councillors Michael Crichton and Faeeza Chame called for an urgent meeting at the Silver Ball, Risana, Johannesburg south with residents and Joburg Water to address the water crisis experienced by these residents.
The meeting resulted in possible solutions given by Joburg Water and Rand Water, such as reinstating the reservoir across the road from the South Hills Water Tower, repositioning and modifying the air valves on the line or reinstating the supply line.
However, as water outages continued, with no feedback given to the residents about the progress of the solutions to get water back to each household, residents took to the streets to protest on September 24. They expressed their frustrations about not having water supplied to their houses for weeks and the strain it has taken on them financially, emotionally and physically.
The high-level meeting
The meeting took place at Eureka House, Springfield, Johannesburg on September 26. The agenda of the meeting was to address the water outages experienced around Johannesburg south, mainly the areas affected by the South Hills Water Tower and Crown Gardens Water Tower.
The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu said, “As a department, we are here to facilitate communication not only between residents and the water services but also to directly communicate with us as a department.
“When I was shuffled into this department, I emphasised we needed to deal with water as a value chain from the primary source until it reaches the taps of each household.”
Due to the continuous water outages, the minister expressed he called for the mayor of Johannesburg, ward councillors with their entity Rand Water, Joburg Water and the Department of Water and Sanitation to collectively come together where all parties can provide disclosure to the residents and where the residents can directly voice their concerns.
“Water is a basic human right; it is sensitive – it is an emotional issue. We understand that you, as residents, do not want stories but solutions. There should be a sharing of concerns, a sharing of sensitivity and resolutions of problems,” said the minister as he addressed the residents.
During the meeting, residents could voice their concerns and ask the panel of officials questions about the water crisis.
The main concerns residents voiced were when the water will be restored, water leaks from pipes in various streets, shortage of water trucks supplying water as an alternative method and the supply of water from reservoirs and its current infrastructural condition.
Rand Water and Johannesburg Water could thereafter address the residents and provide possible solutions.
Solutions for South Hills and Crown Gardens water tower
Councillors Michael Crichton, Faeeza Chame, Rashieda Landis, Stuart Marias, Tyrell Meyers and Solomon provided the residents with feedback regarding the water crisis stating, “As disclosed in the meeting, the short-term solution for the South Hills Water Tower is to get a sump pump to assist with getting water to the tower. The long-term solution by Rand Water and Joburg Water is to get the Meyershill Reservoir working again.
“Rand Water and Joburg Water are currently looking at various mechanisms to increase the water levels. Rand Water also committed to implementing ‘load shifting’ where they will divert water from full reservoirs so that the empty reservoir can also get to a sufficient capacity to pump water.”
