Water in Johannesburg council, May to August 2026

What this page covers

This page covers 19 chapters tagged with water across 4 sitting days of Johannesburg council, from 28 May 2026 to 26 August 2026. The water topic includes water supply, outages, Johannesburg Water, leaks and sanitation, and only transcribed sittings are covered.

Water losses in the budget debate

At the Budget Debate on 28 May 2026, Cllr Zigebe (UDM) said the budget correctly identifies 44.7% water losses and 27% electricity losses. 28 May 02:34:49 Cllr Zigebe welcomed the rise in maintenance spending from 7% to 8% and the allocations to City Power, Johannesburg Water and public safety, and said delivery must follow. 28 May 02:34:49

Cllr Magwentshu (ATM) acknowledged the R220 billion backlog and the electricity and water losses, and said the ATM would support the budget. 28 May 02:28:51 AHC Chair Mpolobosho raised water leaks, sewer blockages and illegal connections in Regions E and A, and said the African Heart Congress supports the budget 100%. 28 May 01:43:09

Cllr Boer (FF+) argued in the Item 3 budget debate that ring-fencing will not rescue Joburg Water or City Power. 28 May 03:57:35 Cllr Santana said the DA does not support the 2026/27 budget, criticising the tariff increases, losses, the flat capital budget and the PFA cost. 28 May 03:37:28 Cllr Meyers (DA) cited water outages and infrastructure backlogs at City Power and Johannesburg Water, contrasting budget-speech access statistics with declining resident satisfaction. 28 May 04:40:03

Johannesburg Water plans at the June sitting

At the 38th Ordinary Council Meeting on 24 June 2026, an unidentified councillor said the revised Johannesburg Water plan under Item 69 projects higher water demand. 24 Jun 04:52:18 The councillor speaking on Item 69 cited forgone savings of about R209 million from buying more bulk water from Rand Water, and collection rates cut from 77.8% to 74.8%. 24 Jun 04:52:18 The councillor speaking on Item 69 objected that council was asked to approve a plan whose total implementation cost was not yet finalised. 24 Jun 04:52:18

Cllr Khonkhobe (EFF) supported the Item 69 report but warned of a R26.6bn infrastructure backlog, non-revenue water above 44% and falling collection levels. 24 Jun 04:54:02 On Item 69, Cllr Khonkhobe (EFF) called for more investment, faster pipe replacement and action on illegal connections and vandalism. 24 Jun 04:54:02 Cllr Bittkau (DA) said the Item 69 report had not gone through a Section 79 committee and was being rushed, and that the DA could not support it. 24 Jun 04:57:27

Item 72, the Johannesburg Water performance improvement action plan v2, was approved when the Speaker ruled the yeses had it, with the DA recording its opposition under Rule 84. 24 Jun 05:47:45 On Item 72, the ACDP noted and accepted the plan, and the EFF gave cautious support, stressing outcomes over documents. 24 Jun 05:47:45 Cllr Bittkau (DA) opposed Item 72 because it did not go through Section 79 and loads costs onto residents. 24 Jun 05:47:45

Turnaround and trading services reform in June

On Item 66 at the 24 June 2026 sitting, Cllr Zitha (EFF) asked what turnaround means while communities lack water, electricity and sanitation. 24 Jun 03:18:47 Cllr Zitha said the EFF supports better revenue collection and loss reduction without punishing poor communities, and called for recovered funds to go back into maintenance. 24 Jun 03:18:47

Item 71, the Metro Trading Services Reforms Program, is a metro trading reform programme for City Power, Joburg Water and Pikitup. 24 Jun 05:16:44 24 Jun 05:34:09 Cllr Mkhonza (ACDP) welcomed the Item 71 programme and cited benchmarks including 87.7% collection, 32% non-revenue water and about 30% electricity losses. 24 Jun 05:16:44 Cllr Zitha (EFF) noted the Item 71 report, welcomed the investment and called for results, accountability and regular reporting to council. 24 Jun 05:22:47

On Item 71, the DA disputed the Speaker's voice ruling and demanded a roll call under Rule 86(1), which the Speaker called a division of the house. 24 Jun 05:34:09 In the division on Item 71, 100 voted for, 53 against and 3 abstained, so the item was carried; the DA recorded its opposition, calling the item premature. 24 Jun 05:34:09

EISD cluster and Joburg Water reports in July

At the 52nd Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting on 22 July 2026, Cllr Bittkau (DA) called the Joburg Water report a litany of failures. 22 Jul 03:43:32 Cllr Bittkau cited pipe bursts repaired within 48 hours at 42% against a 90% target, 49.9% non-revenue water and Joburg Water capex of 34%. 22 Jul 03:43:32 Cllr Bittkau blamed cash-flow restrictions and executive mismanagement, and said 85.1% of invoices were paid late. 22 Jul 03:43:32

Cllr Zigebe (UDM) welcomed improved scores but flagged Joburg Water's pipe-burst repairs at 42% and Pikitup's decline, and supported the reports. 22 Jul 03:25:17 Cllr D. Steenkamp (DA) said outages take an average of about six days to resolve and asked that committee recommendations be tracked. 22 Jul 03:25:17

MMC Sekwaila acknowledged the slow pace of pipe replacement and the effect of unpaid contractors on outages. 22 Jul 03:48:31 MMC Sekwaila said an operation with SAPS and Home Affairs to cut off illegal electricity connections in Alexandra was coming in the coming week. 22 Jul 03:48:31 promise

Water raised at the August sitting

At the 39th Ordinary Council Meeting on 26 August 2026, Cllr Da Rocha (DA) shouted about the lack of water, power and sewer services after the Speaker had moved on. 26 Aug 03:15:22 The Speaker ruled that Cllr Da Rocha was disrupting proceedings and ordered security to remove him from the chamber. 26 Aug 03:15:22 After the removal of Cllr Da Rocha, Cllr Kaldine (PA) complained about how DA councillors are treated. 26 Aug 03:15:22

On Item 6, Cllr Mkasi said the EFF supported the grant but demanded that the administration identify and quantify water infrastructure failures, such as in Zandspruit, and report back to council. 26 Aug 06:18:45