DA Johannesburg councillors urge action amid ongoing water crisis

The DA in Johannesburg has issued a strong call for accountability and immediate action from Rand Water and Premier Panayaza Lesufi as the water crisis in the city worsens.

The crisis has left many Johannesburg residents without water, with some communities enduring dry taps for weeks and resorting to public protests. Recently, the phrase “water-shifting” has been frequently used by Rand Water, Joburg Water, and the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu.

However, this appears to be more of a concerning trend of blame-shifting than a genuine effort to address the urgent needs of the affected communities.

Last month, DA councillors in Johannesburg published an open letter to the mayor outlining key demands to mitigate the water crisis. Regrettably, the response to this letter was centred around allegations of prioritising privileged residents, a claim DA councillors vehemently denied.

The city would clearly rather politicise the water issue rather than actually address it. We are committed to representing all residents of the city.

To comprehensively address the crisis, DA councillors went further to help organise meetings with Joburg Water, to get more information and answers for residents on what is happening, and find out why there has been little to no water and when to expect the restoration of water.

Councillors have collaborated with the private sector to sponsor much-needed water for residents, and we also collaborated with counterparts in the Provincial Legislature and the National Assembly to go on a Water Crisis Tour to various communities such as Claremont, Bruma and Midrand that have struggled with no water, to further understand their challenges.

The DA remains steadfast in its commitment to fighting for residents’ basic access to water and preserving the dignity of all residents of Johannesburg. We will continue to work tirelessly to uphold the fundamental human right to clean water.

DA councillors urge Minister Senzo Mchunu, Premier Panyaza Lesufi, and Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda to fully embrace their leadership roles and prioritise the fundamental human right of access to clean water.

Clr Nicole van Dyk