South Hills water crisis is a ticking time bomb

The South Hills community is grappling with a severe water crisis, with residents struggling to access this basic necessity.

The crisis is attributed to technical issues, a lack of maintenance, vandalism, and suspected sabotage of water supply mechanisms.

Equipment malfunctioning, burst pipes, and other technical issues have also disrupted the water supply, leaving many without clean drinking water.

The lack of maintenance has exacerbated the problem, allowing minor issues to escalate into major crises.

Vandalism and suspected sabotage have played a significant role in this crisis. Allegedly, water supply mechanisms have been intentionally damaged, disrupting the supply.

Ward 56 Clr Michael Crichton said this issue seems too far gone.

“The water crisis in South Hills regarding the reservoir and water supply has been going on for months. Repairs, if any, are short-term solutions which seem to cause more technical problems in the long run. Water systems need to be upgraded and maintained for any difference to be made,” said Crichton.

The community is forced to collect water from tankers that park on different streets. Some residents have to carry the water long distances.

The community is desperate for a solution, and it is imperative that the relevant authorities, like Joburg Water, take immediate action to address the crisis.

This includes thoroughly investigating the suspected sabotage, increasing security measures to stop vandalism and implementing a comprehensive maintenance plan to prevent technical issues.

Mopeli Puleng, the Joburg Water spokesperson, replied to an enquiry from the Southern Courier.

“The water systems are under immense pressure. We are doing our best to keep the water supply regular, specifically in South Hills, where the reservoir has not filled properly and the piping has not been repaired. Power outages have also affected maintenance and disrupted the water supply in recent weeks,” said Puleng.

The people of South Hills deserve clean drinking water, and the authorities must ensure they protect this basic right.

WATCH: 7 days to fully restore water in the south, says Joburg mayor