WaterCAN challenges Lesedi Municipality and Rand Water over ongoing water shortages
With three of Lesedi’s four reservoirs reportedly at just 10% capacity, WaterCAN is demanding answers from the municipality and Rand Water about supply restrictions, outstanding debt and plans to restore reliable water services.
WaterCAN has called on Lesedi Local Municipality, Rand Water and the National Water Crisis Committee to urgently explain the continuing water supply disruptions affecting communities across the municipality.
In an open letter addressed to the three institutions, WaterCAN executive director Dr Ferrial Adam raised concerns about recurring water shortages, critically low reservoir levels and a lack of transparency regarding the causes of the ongoing crisis.
The organisation wants clarity on whether restrictions on Lesedi’s bulk-water supply remain in place, whether the municipality is meeting its debt repayment commitments to Rand Water, and what measures are being implemented to stabilise the water network.
According to WaterCAN, the situation has deteriorated over several years and escalated in 2026, leaving residents to endure repeated interruptions without sufficient information about the causes or expected restoration of their water supply.
WaterCAN said it received reports that more than 800 households in Rensburg had been without water for several days. The organisation said the problem was not isolated, with municipal notices also reflecting recurring water and electricity disruptions affecting Emmasdal, Luckhoff, Heidelberg Ext 23 and Ext 26, and Obed Nkosi.
WaterCAN warned that prolonged outages disproportionately affect households without water-storage facilities, transport or the financial means to obtain alternative supplies.
The open letter highlights a 20% restriction imposed by Rand Water on Lesedi’s bulk-water supply in June after the municipality reportedly failed to honour its debt repayment commitments.
The restriction affected communities across the municipality, including Ratanda and Obed Nkosi, where residents experienced prolonged shortages and, in some cases, had to travel considerable distances to collect water. The restriction was suspended following government intervention in July.
However, WaterCAN said water-supply problems had continued despite the suspension. In September, Lesedi reported critically low reservoir levels and requested additional bulk-water supply from Rand Water.
A high-level meeting between the two institutions on September 4 resulted in an intervention intended to stabilise supply.
WaterCAN expressed concern that the details of the intervention, including the agreed action plan, implementation deadlines and progress made, had not been made publicly available in a clear and consolidated format.
On October 12, Lesedi reportedly announced that three of its four reservoirs were at approximately 10% capacity.
The municipality attributed the situation to a drop in water intake pressure and said it had engaged Rand Water.
WaterCAN described the situation as a serious water-supply emergency and questioned whether Rand Water had again reduced, restricted or throttled the volume or pressure of bulk water supplied to Lesedi.
The organisation said that if no restrictions were in place, both institutions needed to explain why intake pressure had dropped and why reservoirs continued to reach critically low levels.
WaterCAN is calling for public confirmation of whether any restrictions or reductions in bulk-water supply are currently being applied to Lesedi, including when they were introduced, the extent of the reductions and the reasons behind them.
It also wants details of the volume and pressure Rand Water is contracted to supply, alongside actual daily supply figures from September 1, 2026, to date.
Other information requested includes Lesedi’s outstanding debt to Rand Water, the municipality’s compliance with its debt settlement agreement, and confirmation of whether any credit-control or operational measures implemented since July have affected water supply.
The organisation further wants a progress report on the September 4 intervention, outlining what has been implemented, what remains outstanding and the reasons for any delays.
Comment has been requested from Lesedi and Rand Water, and will be published once received.
