Randburg residents remain among the most severely affected by Johannesburg’s ongoing water problems, with outages linked to failing reservoirs and strained infrastructure.

The Brixton reservoir and tower, which supply parts of Randburg, including Blairgowrie, Linden, Windsor, and Northcliff, have been identified as a major weak point in the system. Johannesburg Water (JW) has confirmed that urgent upgrades are needed, but work has been delayed.

Read more: Mayor visits Olivedale, Sharonlea, Bromhof and other areas in Ward 101

Mayor Dada Morero informed parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation this week, that R800m has been allocated to address the city’s water crisis, and the Brixton upgrades are among the projects expected to be completed by the end of October 2025.

Until then, many residents in Randburg will continue facing low pressure or no water. Water tankers have been sent into affected suburbs, but supply has often been delayed, or insufficient to meet community needs.

The disruptions have also had a knock-on effect on schools and clinics. Some schools have had to send pupils home when taps ran dry, while local clinics have struggled to operate without a steady water supply.

Also read: Service delivery poor in Ward 101

At the same time, questions remain about the use of JW’s funds. The Democratic Alliance has accused the city of diverting R4b meant for water infrastructure. Morero has denied that the money is missing, saying it was used for other city services.

Ward 101 councillor Ralf Bittkau said Sharonlea, Boskruin, and Bromhof have experienced problems, but his ward has not been as badly hit as others. However, he criticised the city’s response, calling the water tanker system a total sham. “It has already been shown as such, and I will pursue it further with the managing director of JW.”

Bittkau also expressed frustration at the lack of accountability. “If you watched today’s appearance of the mayor and the MD before the parliamentary committee, you will have noticed that he did not give any proper response to that question.”

As a member of the city’s Section 79 infrastructure committee, Bittkau said he would keep pushing for answers. “I will keep arguing for proper explanations and admissions. However, I see that the financial failure lies with the executive of the city.”

He urged residents to remain engaged and hold leaders accountable. “We are fighting for you, but the ability to change it all lies with you and your vote at the end of next year.”

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