Lesufi outlines progress and hurdles in Gauteng water crisis during SOPA

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has placed interventions to address Johannesburg’s water crisis at the heart of his State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Monday.

Delivering his fourth SOPA at the Nasrec Expo Centre in southern Johannesburg, Lesufi addressed a room filled with opposition parties and key provincial stakeholders.

The Premier recently faced criticism after admitting that while he is affected by ongoing water woes, he possesses the privilege of using hotels as an alternative for access.

WATER RESTORATION AND CHALLENGES

Lesufi noted that several areas, including Midrand, now have full access to water. He highlighted significant progress in other major townships, though some localised issues remain.

"Another area that was saved was Soweto; we have now made great progress except for Meadowlands Zone 3 and Zone 4, and areas receiving water from the Doornkop reservoir," Lesufi stated. "Soweto has now been restored with water. Our engineers have assured us that in areas that still have problems, they are working around the clock to rectify this situation."

Despite these improvements, the Premier acknowledged that several neighbourhoods continue to face intermittent supply or total outages. He described these areas as "stubborn" and "extremely difficult" to resolve, specifically citing:

Westdene

Coronationville

Sophiatown

Melville

Emmarentia

Sections of Doornkop

ECONOMIC EXPANSION: THE VAAL SEZ

Shifting focus to economic development, Lesufi announced the establishment of a new Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Vaal area. This follows years of discussions regarding an SEZ in the Johannesburg South region focused on mining and energy beneficiation.

The Premier confirmed that a gazette has already been published for public comment regarding the development.

“The Vaal SEZ is expected to contribute over R10 billion to the Gauteng economy and create a new city in the Vaal," said Lesufi. "It will ensure that the Vaal becomes independent and participates actively in the economy of our province."