Half of Joburg taps run dry
Johannesburg Water has confirmed that at least half of the residents living in the City of Johannesburg will experience water shortages.
Residents have been dealt a double blow, following the fire at the Eikenhof substation in the south of the city.
Several areas have also been plunged into darkness.
Johannesburg Water and Rand Water get their electricity - to pump water to certain areas - from Eikenhof.
Joburg Water says it has been forced to switch off three reservoirs on Tuesday morning.
Spokesperson Isaac Dhludhlu says water supply is currently being throttled, due to the high demand but no means of supply.
"Two reservoirs are currently closed due to us being unable to provide water because it reached its limit. The Brixton and Hursthill reservoirs are close and we are closing the Jim Fouché pump station as well."
Several hospitals and clinics have been affected by the water blackouts.
Dhludhlu says water tankers will be made available at strategic points, but adds that "as Joburg Water we don't have the capacity to provide everyone with water".
Residents from Rustenburg in the North West have also been affected by the outage, as they are supplied of water by Rand Water.
It's unclear at this stage when water supply will be restored.