Joburg Water refutes sabotage claims
Joburg Water’s managing director, Ntshavheni Mukwevho, has denied intentional sabotage of the water systems to push water tanker contracts.
Mukwevho briefed the media on Friday alongside the city's MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services Department, Jack Sekwaila, following a week of water supply challenges in the city.
On Tuesday, Rand Water suffered a major setback when its operations were disrupted by a severe thunderstorm, accompanied by strong winds, which damaged the power lines feeding the Zuikerbosch water treatment plant.
The power failure resulted in dry taps in Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, and Johannesburg.
A rise in temperatures and demand also added to the water woes.
Mukwevho says the city is not aware of any possible sabotage to the system.
"The issue around the system being under strain started at the beginning of the month already with the issue of the demand increasing,” he says.
“We don't prefer the situation where we have to use water tankers because it is costly, and a very complex operation for a city like Joburg.”
Sekwaila says there is currently a high water consumption which is outstripping supply.
"Joburg Water systems are experiencing poor supply and struggling to cope with the demand. While Rand Water had been pumping normally, the bulk supplier was also battling to fill up their reservoirs due to the collective demand between their various customers,” he says.
Sekwaila says the entity has deployed a total of 50 roaming water trucks and 56 stationary water tanks to mitigate the challenge.
The city is also pumping water into Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital's roof tanks to ensure patients have enough water supply.
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