Johannesburg Water Reports Progress on Coronationville Supply Amid Gauteng Water Woes

Johannesburg Water has assured residents that steady progress is being made to boost water supply in Coronationville, a suburb in the west of the city hit hard by ongoing shortages. The area saw violent protests last month as frustrated locals demanded reliable access to this basic need. The utility’s latest update details steps taken since late September to fix the issues, with work set to wrap up soon.

This comes as part of wider efforts to tackle problems in the Commando System, which affects several neighbourhoods. While short-term fixes are underway, longer-term projects worth billions are planned to bring lasting relief. Residents are urged to stay safe around construction sites as the city works to restore dignity and normal life.

The water crisis has sparked widespread anger, with communities like Westbury, Claremont, and Westdene also facing dry taps. Officials admit ageing pipes and high demand are to blame, but promise action. This article looks at the latest updates, the backstory of the protests, and what lies ahead for Gauteng’s water supply.

Background to the Coronationville Water Crisis

Coronationville has been grappling with unreliable water for years, but things boiled over in September 2025. Residents, both young and old, took to the streets in a desperate cry for help, blocking roads and setting tyres alight. The protests turned violent on 10 September, with police firing rubber bullets to disperse crowds. People voiced frustration over days without water, forcing them to buy bottled supplies or rely on tankers that often ran late or empty.

The unrest spread to nearby Westbury and Newlands, where similar shortages fuelled the anger. Protesters demanded a permanent fix, not just promises. Mayor Dada Morero visited on 11 September, pledging water restoration within seven days through interim measures. He admitted the city’s infrastructure challenges but committed to upgrades. Despite this, some areas still faced low pressure or no flow weeks later, leading to vows of more action if things did not improve.

The root cause lies in the Commando System, an ageing network that supplies these areas. High demand, leaks, and breakdowns have led to throttling—reducing flow to prevent total failure—but this has left taps dry for days. Government called for calm, noting the protests while directing the city to act fast. Tankers were sent as a stopgap, but residents said it was not enough, with some facing health risks from poor sanitation.

Progress on Coronationville’s Immediate Fixes

Johannesburg Water started a planned intervention on 22 September 2025 to boost supply in Coronationville’s high zone. Excavations exposed pipework near Harmony and Hamilton streets, with work completed on both sides. A socket was welded onto the main pipe feeding Crosby on 29 September, and road cutting plus trenching wrapped up the next day. Pipe-laying and valve fitting are now in full swing, with final connections slated for the rest of the week. The cross-connection should go live on Friday, 3 October 2025.

The utility has warned locals to steer clear of the active site for safety. They apologise for the hassle but stress it is needed for better flow. Updates will keep coming as work moves forward.

Wider Efforts in the Commando System

Beyond Coronationville, a dedicated team is probing fixes for sensitive spots in the Commando System, like Claremont, Westbury, and Westdene. These checks are ongoing, with solutions tailored to each area’s unique problems. Short-term tweaks, like reconfiguring the Crosby Pump Station from 11 September, aim to ease pressure. Hursthill 2 reservoir remains low at 10%, but slight gains happened overnight.

Medium- and long-term plans include over R800 million for sustainable upgrades, with R3 billion earmarked over three to four years. This covers pipe replacements, reservoir boosts at Brixton (65% complete by October 2025), and overall system revamps. Construction at key sites like Quellerina is due to start in March 2025. These efforts depend on bigger projects to fully stabilise supply, but interim steps like tankers continue in affected zones.

Mayor Morero’s Promises and City-Wide Challenges

Mayor Dada Morero has vowed to find lasting solutions, returning to Coronationville on 18 September after missing his seven-day deadline. He extended the timeline to three weeks, admitting the crisis’s complexity but committing to upgrades. Morero blamed ageing infrastructure and non-payment for worsening the woes, with Johannesburg Water needing over R27 billion for fixes—far more than the R1.7 billion budgeted this year.

City-wide, areas like Mayfair and parts around Johannesburg face similar cuts due to reservoir work. The mayor urged patience, comparing it to load shedding updates, and stressed constant communication. Parliament has given officials 14 days to address the crisis, with calls for calm as protests linger.

Resident Impacts and Calls for Action

The shortages have hit hard, with some going weeks without water, leading to health risks and daily struggles. In Westbury and Claremont, frustration boils over, with vows to protest if supplies do not return. A multi-agency approach, involving planning, monitoring, and water boards, has been key in spots like Merafong.

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