Johannesburg Mayor, Dada Morero, in updating residents on the ongoing water crisis, revealed that the city's water supply reserves remained critically low, at just 40%.
"This is far from ideal for a system of this magnitude," the mayor said.
In response, the City was working to increase reserves to over 60% to buffer against sudden water supply interruptions.
He on Wednesday, addressed the City’s ongoing efforts to address other critical challenges, with a focus on the water crisis, office accommodation issues, and the closure of the Metro Centre.
In November 2024, the city observed a 6% decrease in water consumption, largely due to aggressive measures such as scheduled water restrictions, faster repair response times, the removal of illegal connections, and enhanced leak management.
“While the water supply system remains stable, certain areas, like the Hursthill-2 zone, are heavily strained due to high demand from the ongoing heatwave,” said Morero.
The City has been closing the Brixton and Hursthill reservoir outlets at night to rebuild capacity and provide affected areas with water through tankers.
The Midrand water supply system, especially in the Grand Central and Erand reservoir zones, has also been impacted, and the mayor assured residents that the system is being closely monitored, with regular adjustments to improve capacity.
Morero further explained that the South Hills tower system ran dry due to high demand, but the bulk supply system has since recovered slightly.
"Permanent interventions are underway to upgrade the South Hills tower system, including the construction of a sump to buffer supply when the bulk supplier system is constrained,” he added.
Johannesburg is currently under level-1 water supply restrictions, which include measures such as no irrigation between 6am and 6pm, mandatory spray nozzles for hosepipes, and a ban on hosing down hard surfaces.
The mayor urged residents to help reduce water demand and comply with the restrictions while the city continues to address water wastage.
Moving on to the state of the Metro Centre, Morero discussed the building’s severe structural issues and non-compliance with safety regulations.
The 50-year-old structure, which houses 3,000 city employees and serves as a hub for essential services, has been deemed uninhabitable and in urgent need of refurbishment.
"Swift action was necessary to prevent exposing CoJ employees and the public to further danger," said Morero, referring to reports highlighting the building’s deteriorating infrastructure, including outdated electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems.
Maintenance, he explained, had not been conducted as prescribed, leading to severe leaks and additional risks.
The mayor also shared that as of November 2024, the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) manages approximately 29,000 properties, with 74% allocated to city services.
He said that 82% of the 7,575 properties managed by the JPC serve community needs such as crèches, churches, and private parking.
Morero assured residents that the city is actively working to address office accommodation challenges, including the complexities surrounding the closure and refurbishment of the Metro Centre.
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