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 has confirmed that urgent upgrades are needed, but work has been delayed.

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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. 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.

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Ward 99 councillor Hendrik Bodenstein described his area as relatively lucky, noting that residents have not faced the prolonged outages seen elsewhere. “Apart from the nightly system closures that Johannesburg Water has implemented to stabilise supply, our ward has been relatively lucky. Our biggest issue, regarding water, is not supply, but ridiculous billing errors.”

Schools, clinics, and vulnerable residents in Ward 99 have generally been able to continue with daily operations, though Bodenstein stressed the need for vigilance. “While our ward has been spared the worst of the crisis, accountability is essential to protect that stability going forward.”

By contrast, Ward 102 councillor Lucinda Harman painted a far bleaker picture. She said water bursts and repair delays have left residents without water for long periods, compounded by throttling that cuts supply from late afternoon until morning. “Randburg Clinic has really battled with no water due to repairs that take days to fix. A small JoJo tank, which residents also take water from, is simply insufficient. Other clinics, schools, and even municipal offices like libraries, sports centres, and licensing departments, had to close due to no water.”

She was critical of Johannesburg Water’s tanker system, saying it had failed residents. “The trucks were politically deployed, and neglect was clear in Region B, which is greater Randburg. Residents and businesses became desperate, and JW ignored the council’s pleas for water.”

Neither councillor has been given firm timelines, in terms of the upgrades needed for their wards. Harman noted that her ward had seen: “No improvements, other than two pipeline replacements currently underway”, while Bodenstein stressed the importance of monitoring upgrades to ensure long-term supply security.

Both councillors said they were working with DA National Spokesperson on Water and Sanitation Stephen Moore MP, who has been raising Johannesburg’s water issues in parliament.

Harman’s message to residents was stark: “We are in a water crisis. Nobody can deny that. The current administration is stubbornly not taking accountability or urgently addressing this crisis. What is happening at present is a human rights violation.”

Bodenstein urged residents to remain cautious, but hopeful: “We must conserve water where possible and continue pressing the city for lasting infrastructure upgrades, so that stability in Ward 99 is maintained and expanded across Johannesburg.”

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