Ward 88 councillor vows to hold Joburg Water officials accountable
Johannesburg's water crisis has reached a boiling point, and the residents of Ward 88 are bearing the brunt of the ongoing struggle, with daily water throttling and prolonged outages.
Johannesburg residents, particularly those in Ward 88, have been grappling with a water crisis that shows no signs of abating.
The city’s water utility, Johannesburg Water (JW), has implemented daily water throttling from 6pm to 5am, leaving households, businesses, and daily routines severely disrupted.
Read more: Ward 88 sees power restoration after eight days
According to Ward 88 Councillor Nicolene Jonker, the water crisis is the result of a combination of factors, including high demand, ageing infrastructure, power failures, and structural issues at the Hursthill 2 Reservoir.
The water systems being throttled in Ward 88 include Hursthill 1 and 2, Corriemoor, Quellerina, and Northcliff. Residents in Emmarentia, Northcliff, and surrounding areas have faced prolonged water outages, with little to no communication from Johannesburg Water, said Jonker.
“Households are struggling with basic daily needs, and this is simply unacceptable,” she added.
Also read: Residents of Ward 88 are frustrated by repeated power outages
Jonker has requested JW to provide urgent updates on the water supply issues and raised concerns about the delayed repairs to the Hursthill 2 Reservoir, which has remained unresolved for more than 18 months. “I am committed to holding Johannesburg Water accountable. The current leadership has failed our communities, and we cannot allow this to continue.”
She highlighted that the Democratic Alliance had launched a petition to dissolve the Johannesburg Water Board due to their alleged mismanagement and failure to address the water crisis adequately.
Jonker urged residents to sign the petition and encouraged them to take small steps to conserve water, such as avoiding watering gardens or washing cars during peak times, checking for leaks, and staying informed by following Johannesburg Water’s updates.
“I know this situation is frustrating, and I appreciate your patience. I will not stop pushing for real solutions, and I’m here to help if you have any concerns or need assistance.”
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