Update on Johannesburg Water refurbishment projects
Communities must wait until 2026 for Hursthill’s full overhaul, with a contractor being appointed to oversee the repairs.
Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero, accompanied by MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services Jack Sekwaila and Johannesburg Water (JW) managing director Ntshavheni Mukwevho, met with the community at the Danie Van Zyl Recreation Centre in Newlands on September 11, over the two day protest, which took place on September 10 and 11 over persistent water shortages that disrupted their daily life.
Read more: City works to rectify water issues after protests
Morero acknowledged the seriousness of the crisis, and said that the city has allocated R800m to tackle long-standing infrastructure problems that triggered the protests.
Mukwevho pointed to the Hursthill reservoirs, key suppliers to the affected areas, as being in urgent need of refurbishment. “We are going to refurbish Hursthill 1, with work expected to be completed by October 2026. For Hursthill 2, we have appointed a contractor, and work should start in the next few weeks.” He added that the Brixton reservoir project, which is expected to improve stability in the system, should be completed by the end of next month.
Also read: Water shoots towards the heavens in Montgomery Park
When inquiring on the timelines, JW spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala confirmed that the refurbishment of Hursthill 2 reservoir is underway, with the contractor expected to complete work in May 2026. “For Hursthill 1, which is currently on bypass due to leaks, a contractor will only be appointed in November 2025, with the project due for completion by October 2026.”
The broader upgrades to the Commando system – which includes Hursthill, Crosby, and Brixton – are also in progress, said Shabalala. She explained that this includes upgrading the Crosby pumpstation and installing a new rising main to the Hursthill reservoir, alongside work on the supply line from the Commando meter to the Hursthill and Crosby reservoirs. These upgrades are expected to be finalised by December 2026.
Meanwhile, construction of the new Brixton reservoir and tower is almost complete, and should be finished by the end of October. Shabalala added that the project will boost capacity in the Commando system, which has struggled to keep pace with demand.
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