For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Shomolekae.

Making headlines: City of Johannesburg says Johannesburg not at ‘Day Zero’; DA threatens to sue over Gauteng water crisis; And, Marokane says with demand 98% covered, Eskom can now turn its focus to pricing models

City of Johannesburg says Johannesburg not at ‘Day Zero

The City of Johannesburg has assured that, despite the widespread water challenges being experienced across the region, there is no ‘Day Zero’ and the water system, while under pressure, is stable.

Increasingly, there have been concerns and reports over a potential ‘Day Zero’ and that the city is facing a scenario of complete system failure where water can no longer be supplied, a narrative that the CoJ dismissed in a statement issued on Tuesday.

However, the CoJ concedes that the system remains under significant pressure owing to high demand, infrastructure constraints and ongoing supply challenges.

From the Midrand, Central and Commando systems through to the Soweto system, Johannesburg Water has been experiencing water supply constraints, with critically low reservoirs, low supply, declining pressure and, in many cases, complete outages, for days or weeks.

DA threatens to sue over Gauteng water crisis

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance accused African National Congress-led municipalities and Rand Water of collapsing the Gauteng water system, threatening to take legal action against Johannesburg Water and Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina.

The party is demanding that Majodina immediately instruct Rand Water to regularly and timeously communicate directly with the public and not through metros.

The DA accused Rand Water of repeatedly failing to communicate directly, clearly and timeously with residents during major incidents.

The party said it wants concrete steps to stabilise the system while repairs are implemented. It demands that national and provincial government activate the emergency and disaster funding instruments that are available.

The party also wants Majodina to relax Rand Water water licence restrictions to aid Gauteng, and fix failing infrastructure.

And, Marokane says with demand 98% covered, Eskom can now turn its focus to pricing models

Eskom has arrived at a position where it can turn its attention to determining the appropriate pricing in support of the various sectors of the economy – especially vulnerable sectors, says Eskom group CEO Dan Marokane.

Participating in a panel on ‘Progress through private sector partnerships’ at the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026 in Cape Town this week, the power utility boss said the percentage of time Eskom was able to meet demand from a supply perspective stood at 9% just over two years ago with Eskom now sitting at over 98% in terms of coverage as far as supply and demand are concerned.

He explained that it is now in a position where it has sufficient electricity.

Marokane said this meant that the current focus was “on driving costs”, on finding “pricing that is appropriate to support the various sectors of the economy”, and also alleviate the hardships that society in general, especially the vulnerable, are feeling.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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