The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on Friday called on all stakeholders to act with urgency to address the water crisis in Gauteng.

Over the last five months, the commission’s Gauteng Provincial Office (GPO) has received multiple complaints relating to prolonged water outages in several areas across the province.

Within the City of Johannesburg, these include Sophiatown, Selby, Coronationville, Westbury, Pimville Zone 3, Ferndale, Bryanston, Phumla Mqashi (Region G) and Dobsonville Extension 5.

The Department of Water and Sanitation has indicated that the principal cause of reduced access to water in the City of Johannesburg is the aging and deteriorating water reticulation infrastructure.

In the City of Ekurhuleni, as well as the Emfuleni and Rand West local municipalities, the GPO received complaints regarding water challenges in Waterdal and Venterspos.

Complaints further followed Rand Water’s imposition of a 20% water restriction on the Rand West local municipality owing to nonpayment of debt obligations. This restriction significantly affected communities in Venterspos, Glenharvie, Zuurbekom and Bekkersdaal.

“Despite a prior meeting between the Rand West local municipality and Rand Water, where the municipality requested a three-month grace period to address its financial challenges, and despite Rand Water’s apparent agreement to delay any restrictions, the water cut was nevertheless implemented the very next day,” the SAHRC explained.

“This abrupt action severely affected local communities, including essential institutions such as schools and clinics in Glenharvie. In the meantime, water is being supplied through tankers in coordination with ward councillors to alleviate the crisis.”

Concerned by the water crisis in Gauteng, the SAHRC has been engaging with several stakeholders, including Joburg Water between September 1 and October 7, and the Office of the Gauteng Premier on September 15, 22 and 23.

Subsequent to the stakeholder engagement, water supply was restored to Selby on October 14 and to Sophiatown and Coronationville on October 27.

Joburg Water informed the Commission that it had also initiated a borehole water programme in Phumla Mqashi (Region G), while water tankers continue to be deployed in affected areas, such as Phumla Mqashi, Bedfordview and Kensington, during temporary supply interruptions.

“For its part the SAHRC will continue to monitor the situation and engage all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the rights to access sufficient water, dignity and health of affected communities are upheld,” the commission concluded.