Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero Pledges Fixes for Ageing Water Infrastructure Amid Ongoing Crisis and Protests
Johannesburg, Gauteng – As water shortages continue to plague parts of Johannesburg, Mayor Dada Morero has assured residents that the city is taking steps to repair its old and leaking water systems. Speaking outside the Joburg Council Chambers in Braamfontein, where frustrated locals held a picket, Morero highlighted efforts to tackle leaking pipes and reservoirs. This comes as the metro faces growing pressure from communities hit by dry taps and unreliable supply, with civil society groups calling for more transparency and action.
The mayor’s comments follow months of disruptions, blamed on years of underinvestment in infrastructure. With daily water demand slightly down due to conservation efforts, the city is now focusing on long-term fixes to build resilience against shortages.
Details of the Refurbishment Plan and Budget Commitments
Morero explained that Johannesburg’s water woes stem largely from ageing pipes and reservoirs that have not been maintained properly. He noted that the city has secured funding to start major repairs this financial year. “We did indicate that in Johannesburg, we’ve got a bigger issue in terms of water infrastructure, and this is a result of our leaking pipes. Some of our reservoirs that are leaking require refurbishment. In this financial year, we made a commitment to refurbish at least 24 of the 45 reservoirs, and we are currently busy with 19, as we’ve got sufficient budget to do those,” adds Morero.
This commitment covers nearly half of the city’s reservoirs, with work already underway on most of them. The plan includes replacing old pipes to cut down on leaks, which waste millions of litres of water each day. City officials have also installed noise loggers for better leak detection and smart pressure controllers to manage flow and reduce wastage. These tools have helped lower daily water use from about 1,792 megalitres to 1,702 megalitres through programmes that encourage smarter water use in homes and businesses.
Beyond reservoirs, the strategy involves upgrading wastewater treatment plants. Major work at Olifantsvlei and Bushkoppies is complete, while Goudkoppies is 95% done. New water towers and reservoirs are planned for high-growth areas, along with projects to reuse treated water and tap into groundwater. Borehole drilling is happening in partnership with local experts to provide backup supplies in hard-hit spots like informal settlements.
To fund these efforts, the municipality aims to secure loans worth billions of rands over the next decade. This will help speed up repairs and prevent future breakdowns, especially as seasonal demands rise during hot months.
The Braamfontein Protest and Resident Demands
The mayor’s address came during a lively demonstration on 1 November 2025, where hundreds of residents from areas like Orange Farm, Kelvin, Kensington, and Ivory Park gathered at the council chambers in Braamfontein. Organised by civil society groups, trade unions, and community associations, the picket highlighted the daily struggles with intermittent water supply and dry taps. Protesters handed over a memorandum of demands, calling for urgent changes to how water services are managed.
Key demands include ringfencing water funds to stop them from being diverted elsewhere, full accountability for billions of rands reportedly withdrawn from the water utility, and transparent reports on spending and performance. They also want a clear timeline to end reliance on water tankers, with details on contracts and costs published. Other calls focus on appointing skilled board members for the water entity through open processes, including input from communities, unions, and experts, to avoid political meddling.
Protesters voiced frustration over decisions being made by unelected boards rather than local councillors. One organiser described the event as the start of a bigger push, saying it was a “revolutionary act” to hold leaders accountable. Morero acknowledged the role of civil society in keeping government on track but did not give an immediate detailed response to the demands. Instead, he promised to meet with protest leaders soon and provide answers in due course.
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