Gauteng may lose R14bn a year to leaking pipes
Deputy Water and Sanitation Minister Jack Bloom said leaks waste about R7bn a year at Rand Water rates and could cost more than R14bn at municipal rates. He spoke at a Gauteng workshop in Boksburg on the draft national framework.
Bloom said Gauteng loses 431 billion litres of treated water a year through physical leaks. One source put the share of water lost or not paid for at 48%, while the other gave 49% and said it was up from 42.5% in 2023/24. Emfuleni has the worst losses, at over 70%, and Mogale City follows at over 60%.
Johannesburg loses an estimated 49%, including 26% through physical leaks. Tshwane loses 45%, with 34% physical, and Ekurhuleni loses about 30%, with 22% physical.
The draft Strategic Framework for Water and Sanitation Services sets targets for 2035. It wants non-revenue water below 25% and at least 30% of end-of-life pipelines, pumps and process units replaced. It also wants 80% of urban households to have smart meters by 2032.
Bloom said Gauteng must roughly halve its water losses to meet the national target. He also said an independent economic regulator for water services should be legislated by 2029. He told councils: "We are only successful when every person experiences functioning, safe and reliable water and sanitation services."
Key facts
- Who
- Jack Bloom (Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation); Rand Water (water utility whose rates were used to value losses)
- What
- Speaking at a Gauteng provincial workshop on the draft Strategic Framework for Water and Sanitation Services, Bloom said water losses through physical leaks are valued at about R7bn using Rand Water rates and could exceed R14bn using municipal rates. He urged councils to focus on reliable service delivery.
- When
- 27 October 2026
- Where
- Gauteng, Emfuleni, Johannesburg
- Status
- Reported