Joburg residents protest as water supply is throttled

Residents of Johannesburg protested against ongoing water shortages and poor communication on the week leading up to local government elections. Brixton resident Rashida Mather, who has dementia, expressed her frustration, stating she cannot remember having consecutive days of running water. She relies on carrying heavy buckets of water for her elderly patient's care.

In Parktown, 93-year-old Gilly Pirrow, a resident since 1955, joined the protest, stating she cannot carry water due to her age and physical limitations. In Kensington, Nonie Zulu protested with her children, who are studying for exams without water. Johannesburg Water (JW) and Rand Water (RW) warned of severe water shortages, implementing targeted throttling to balance supply and stabilize distribution.

They proposed restrictions like banning irrigation in public parks and prohibiting hosing down hard surfaces. JW is currently delivering basic water access, with Level 1 restrictions in place. RW stated it would begin restricting bulk water supplies to municipalities exceeding their allocations if demand continues to rise. Water expert Richard Holden explained that the city's geographical location makes water supply challenging, as water must be pumped through several stages at high pressure from the Vaal system to JW-operated reservoirs and towers.

High demand, leaking pipes, and reservoirs have exacerbated the crisis. The City of Johannesburg has lost over 207-billion liters of water in the 2025 financial year, resulting in significant revenue loss. The city is undercollecting due to leaks and billing system issues. WaterCAN executive director Dr. Ferrial Adam criticized authorities for not addressing widespread leaks and for blaming high consumer demand.

Holden described the current crisis as a "perfect storm," requiring citywide physical restrictions and mandatory water-demand management devices.