Johannesburg Water has confirmed that long-delayed repair work at the Hursthill 2 reservoir has begun following sustained pressure from the community and local leadership.

According to JW spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala, the contractor will begin work on December 1, with the work scheduled to be completed by April 9 2026. The announcement follows months of uncertainty, despite earlier commitments that a contractor had already been appointed and that work would begin sooner. Originally, the project had been scheduled to start in November this year.

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The Northcliff Melville Times previously reported on a public meeting held on September 11 at the Danie van Zyl Community Hall in Newlands, where Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero, MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services Jack Sekwaila, and Johannesburg Water managing director Ntshavheni Mukwevho addressed concerned residents.

Mukwevho acknowledged the deteriorating state of infrastructure across the city, saying it was outdated and in urgent need of refurbishment. He confirmed that funding for refurbishment had been prioritised in budgets passed over the past two years. He also pointed out that the bulk infrastructure serving the area is inadequate and that Johannesburg’s interconnected water system means the condition of upstream reservoirs directly affects downstream supply.

According to a Johannesburg Water media statement, the Commando system supplies large communities across Brixton, Crosby, and the Hurst Hill 1 and Hurst Hill 2 zones. Areas served include Melville, Emmarentia, Richmond, Greenside, Westdene, Westcliff, Auckland Park, and Parktown West.

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Ward 87 councillor Kyle Jacobs highlighted that the reservoir will be placed on bypass to allow teams to work safely inside, a move that is expected to cause periods of low water pressure and, at times, no water supply. “JW has indicated there are no alternative systems available to augment supply during this period, making intermittent disruptions unavoidable. The full impact on high-lying areas remains unclear until the bypass system is fully commissioned,” he said.

Residents have been warned that the lack of reserve capacity will make it difficult to predict exactly when the water supply will be affected or restored, said Jacobs. “We will continue to monitor the project closely and provide monthly updates on its progress.”

Despite the challenges, the work is considered critical to securing long-term water reliability for the affected communities. The Hursthill 2 rehabilitation forms part of a broader upgrade of the Commando system, including the installation of a new pump station that will replace the current gravity-fed supply to the Hursthill reservoir complex.

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