There are lessons to be learnt from Joburg's water crisis, says Mayor Gwamanda's office

JOHANNESBURG - The capital city of South Africa, Pretoria, is not the only metro struggling with water supply as South Africans prepare to vote in May.

Johannesburg has been without water for almost two weeks taps in households, businesses, schools, old age homes and other institutions continue to run dry.

Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda's office said there were lessons to be learned from the water crisis that gripped the city.

Taps across Johannesburg have been running dry since last week owing to problems at the Eikenhof pump station.

The crisis is poised to have a ripple effect after reports that the Randburg Fire Station did not have water to respond to a nearby house fire on Tuesday, and a water tanker needed to be dispatched from Florida.

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According to Joburg Water supply is being slowly restored despite taps running dry in several areas.

Joburg Water said supply was slowly being restored but several areas were still without.

Mayoral spokesperson Mlimandlela Ndamase said the mayor met with ward councillors in affected areas on Tuesday night to provide an update on the situation.

“As things stand, all systems are currently recovering and there is restoration of supply to the majority of the areas that were previously affected,” he said.

“However, we are still experiencing critically low supply in areas such as Linden and Blairgowrie and that particular system will continue to be monitored over the next two days as efforts are being made to restore supply fully.”

The mayor pleaded with those affected “to exercise a bit more patience” while they worked to resolve the issue.

Ndamase said this is a learning experience for them.

“This particular incident has also provided the city with valuable lessons on how to manage and how to communicate with residents.”