MK Party’s Ndhlela: Joburg Water Woes Are Engineered Crisis by Incompetent Leaders
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has pointed fingers at the City of Johannesburg for messing up water supply, saying the shortages hitting residents are not from a lack of water but from bad handling. This claim came after party members visited the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, where they saw plenty of water flowing into Gauteng. MK spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela called it a “shameful collapse in water distribution” caused by leaders who cannot do their jobs right. As South Africa marks Heritage Day, this mess shows how poor running of basics like water can hurt everyday life, leaving families without a drop for days.
The party says this is part of bigger troubles under the Government of National Unity (GNU), which they see as a group of elites more worried about their own spots than fixing problems. Joburg has faced water cuts for weeks now, with areas like Randburg, Roodepoort, and Soweto hit hard by low pressure or no flow at all. City bosses blame high use and leaks, but the MK Party insists it’s all down to political games and no real plan.
Oversight Visit Reveals Full Flow from Lesotho
During their check at the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, MK members found the system running at top speed. “Following an oversight visit to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, the MK Party can confirm that the system is operating at full capacity. Contrary to the excuses peddled by municipal officials, water is indeed flowing at a rate of 20 000 litres per second via the Vaal River system into Gauteng. The infrastructure’s maintenance is complete and the supply is stable,” Ndhlela said.
He added: “What they found confirms what communities already know. Johannesburg is not a victim of water scarcity but of political negligence. That is caused entirely by the incompetence and mismanagement of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality. That is purely political failure.”
The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is key for Gauteng’s water, pumping in about 780 million cubic metres a year through tunnels and dams. But recent complaints from Lesotho communities say the project causes harm like moving people from homes, health risks, and damage to nature. They filed a case with the African Development Bank, asking for fair pay and fixes. Still, the MK Party says the flow is fine, and the real snag is in Joburg’s pipes and planning.
Blame on GNU and Calls for Accountability
Ndhlela tied the water woes to wider fails under the GNU. “The DA-led so-called GNU is shamelessly politicising the ongoing water crisis and the basic rights of our people in order to secure political favours and barter for positions. Most notably the mayorship of the City of Johannesburg,” he claimed.
He said the government has left people hanging, letting basics like water, power, and roads fall apart. “The MK Party demands immediate accountability from those responsible for this engineered crisis and gross failure to provide a basic and constitutionally enshrined human right. Our people are not asking for favours, they are demanding what is rightfully owed to them.”
Joburg Water has blamed the cuts on restrictions from Rand Water, who say high demand and leaks are the culprits. Rand Water has urged folks to save water, fixing over 1,000 leaks but saying more work is needed on old pipes. Yet, some experts agree with MK, saying poor upkeep and planning have let the system rot, leading to bursts and waste.
Residents Bear the Brunt of Ongoing Shortages
For people in Joburg, the shortages mean long waits for tankers or buying bottled water. Areas like Soweto and Alexandra have seen protests over no taps running for days. The crisis has hit hard since early September, with some blaming hot weather spiking use.
The city has rolled out fixes like pressure cuts and fixing leaks, but critics say it’s too little, too late. Phase 2 of the Lesotho project, set for 2028, could add more water, but till then, folks want quick wins.
MK Party’s Push for Change and Broader Fixes
The MK Party says they will keep pushing for answers, calling the crisis man-made. Ndhlela urged a shake-up in how the city runs, to stop political games hurting basics.
This fits wider calls for better water plans in Gauteng, where demand outstrips supply. Groups like the Joburg Water Crisis Committee say wait till 2029 for more from Lesotho, but push for now on saving and fixing pipes.
As debates rage, residents hope for taps to run steady soon. The MK Party’s visit spotlights the need for clear fixes, not excuses, to keep water flowing for all.
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