Johannesburg Water payment delays halt Hursthill reservoir project, leaving residents fuming
Ward councillors say residents deserve clear answers as fears grow that contractor payment disputes could delay the Hursthill 2 reservoir project.
Ward 82 councillor Marilyn Smouse says residents are becoming increasingly frustrated over uncertainty surrounding the Hursthill 2 reservoir (HH2) project, following a payment dispute that prompted workers linked to contractor Mapitsi Civil Works to protest outside Johannesburg Water’s (JW) offices on August 7.
Smouse said the issue extends beyond the contractor dispute, with many residents already experiencing ongoing water interruptions and low pressure.
Read more: Melville residents demand answers as week-long water outage sparks protest
“The reaction from residents has been one of frustration, disappointment, and growing concern. Residents are tired of ongoing water challenges and want to see tangible progress on infrastructure that is critical to securing a reliable water supply.”
She described HH2 as a critical part of the wider Commando water system, saying it directly affects households, schools, businesses, and vulnerable residents across Ward 82 and neighbouring communities.
Smouse said residents do not want contractual disputes to delay a project that is urgently needed, and called on JW to improve communication with affected communities. “JW should provide regular updates explaining where the project stands, what work has been completed, what challenges have arisen, whether the completion date has changed, and what contingency measures are in place.”
Ward 87 councillor Kyle Jacobs said the payment dispute reflects a broader pattern of delayed contractor payments affecting major infrastructure projects across Johannesburg. Jacobs said he had seen similar problems during construction of the Brixton reservoir and water tower, where work stopped repeatedly because contractors were not paid on time.
Also read: Johannesburg Water breaks silence over payment dispute at Hursthill reservoir construction
“This is nothing new. We’ve seen this time and time again.”
He said contractors often keep projects running by using their own money to pay workers before eventually reaching a point where work can no longer continue. “The contractor does try and push a couple of months, and has to take money out of his own pocket to sustain operations and pay the staff, but the situation is untenable.”
According to Jacobs, delayed payments affect more than construction schedules. “This has a direct impact, not only on the workers who are not getting paid, but also the residents who are going without water.”
He said the Brixton reservoir recently stood empty because insufficient water was reaching it from Rand Water and argued that, had HH2 been completed on schedule, it could have provided reserve capacity during recent maintenance.
“It was supposed to be completed in April this year. If it had been done and the contractors had been paid when they were supposed to be paid, residents wouldn’t have felt the impact of the Rand Water maintenance to the extent they have.”
Jacobs criticised what he described as the city’s failure to prioritise essential infrastructure spending. “They’re not putting money where it matters most. It’s unacceptable and we can’t tolerate it.”
Both councillors agreed that resolving the payment dispute quickly is essential to keeping the Hursthill 2 reservoir project on track and improving long-term water security for surrounding communities.
Joburg Water did not respond to questions by the time of going to print.
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