Deputy President Paul Mashatile has convened a Water Task Team meeting to address interventions for stabilising Gauteng's water supply following recent disruptions. Officials attribute the issues to electro-mechanical failures and a pipe burst in late January. While Rand Water has restored capacity, municipal systems in Johannesburg face ongoing pressure.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who chairs the Water Task Team, convened a meeting to outline interventions aimed at stabilising Gauteng's water supply. Officials reported that electro-mechanical failures at Rand Water pump stations and a major pipe burst in late January temporarily reduced bulk supply. Rand Water has since restored full capacity, but municipal systems, especially in Johannesburg, remain strained due to low reservoir levels, high demand, and ageing infrastructure. Water losses in these systems average 33%.
To mitigate the situation, measures include load shifting at pump stations, deploying water tankers, and providing technical support to municipalities. Mashatile is scheduled to visit Johannesburg next week to monitor progress.
This comes amid President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement of a new National Water Crisis Committee during his State of the Nation Address on 13 February 2026. The address highlighted long-term efforts, such as building new dams, upgrading existing infrastructure, and committing over R156 billion in public funding for water and sanitation over the next three years.
However, civil society organisation WaterCAN has expressed scepticism about the new committee. Executive Director Dr Ferrial Adam stated: “It’s another committee. Every time we have an obstacle or some kind of a big issue Ramaphosa forms either a commission, or a committee, and it’s not guaranteed that the committees have teeth, even though he says he’ll personally chair it. Until we know exactly what the terms of reference are for such a committee, what they aim to do, what are the actions that they’re going to take, right now it’s just seems like another talk shop, and another committee.”
