Ramaphosa says national plan under way to fix Gauteng’s water crisis
Ramaphosa did not directly answer the question on water tanker beneficiaries, instead repeating that the crisis committee's plan was being implemented.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday that the government is actively tackling the water crisis in several Gauteng communities. Speaking to the media in Orange Farm, ahead of the local elections on November 4, 2026, Ramaphosa established a National Water Crisis Committee that has crafted a national plan to resolve water shortages across the country.
The plan involves drilling boreholes and repairing water supply systems, Ramaphosa explained, citing Hammanskraal as an example of progress. Boreholes have been installed and water is now being reticulated to households, even if it is still in the streets. The Department of Water and Sanitation is working diligently to address the crisis, Ramaphosa added.
Ramaphosa acknowledged that water tankers, initially intended as a temporary measure, have become entrenched in many areas, including Hammanskraal and Orange Farm. He did not specify which residents stand to benefit from the tanker system, but reiterated that the new National Water Action Plan would fully resolve the water crisis.
The National Water Action Plan, released on July 23, 2026, outlines a series of short, medium, and long-term actions. It aims to boost infrastructure investment, legal and regulatory reforms, and fight corruption in the water sector. Watercom, the committee that drafted the plan, was formed to tackle the worsening water crisis in specific regions.
According to the presidency, the root cause of the crisis is an inadequate water service delivery model, which squanders revenues meant for water infrastructure maintenance, investment, and skilled staff hiring.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
