Gauteng govt will step in to assist municipalities facing water woes, says Maile

JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng’s acting premier, Lebogang Maile, said that the provincial government would step in to assist municipalities facing water woes.

This came as the province grapples with a water crisis, with some residents worried about the probability of a "day zero" scenario.

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Maile said that despite the fact that the water supply was not the responsibility of the provincial government, a task team had been formed to oversee the situation.

"The minister of water and sanitation, the deputy minister of water and sanitation, the premier and all the mayors, including Rand Water, the chairperson and the executive CEO, sit in that task team."  

Maile said the team was putting together short- and long-term provisions to address the water problems.  

"In the short term, I think it's about making sure that where there is maintenance, there must be interim provisions. Then there are medium- and long-term issues, which will also require funding. It’s one of the issues we are looking at, and we are determined to work with the national and local government to ensure that we make resources available, and we all invest in the infrastructure."