Johannesburg needs R13bn to fix ageing water network
Mayor Dada Morero said the city needs about R13bn: R6bn for water and R7bn for sewers. He said the network of more than 70 years loses 44% of its water to leaks, bursts and failing pipes.
Morero spoke at a media briefing at the Crown Gardens reservoirs on Monday. He said the loss of water has crippled supply while reservoirs run low. Outages continue in parts of the city.
The city's pipe network is 12,600km long. Johannesburg Water replaced 84km of pipe in the last financial year. Morero said the scale of the problem is enormous.
He said steps in the Johannesburg Water turnaround strategy could cut losses by at least 10% in the short term. He said this would come at a massive cost.
Morero also said the city's high consumption exceeded the allocation from Rand Water, and the city is battling to meet demand. He said Johannesburg Water officials are working around the clock to restore supply.
Key facts
- Who
- Dada Morero (Johannesburg mayor); Johannesburg Water (city water utility, runs turnaround strategy); Rand Water (bulk water supplier whose allocation the city's consumption exceeded)
- What
- At a media briefing at Crown Gardens reservoirs, Mayor Dada Morero said Johannesburg needs about R13bn (R6bn for water, R7bn for sewers) to refurbish its more-than-70-year-old network, which the city says loses 44% of its water to leaks, bursts and failing pipes amid ongoing outages and low reservoirs.
- When
- 2 November 2026
- Where
- Johannesburg, Crown Gardens, Midrand
- Status
- Reported