Panyaza Lesufi, delivered the SOPA at Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone. Water is among 13 issues he highlighted. Picture
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has acknowledged the province’s ongoing water challenges, outlining a series of measures aimed at improving supply and infrastructure.
Speaking during his State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Monday, Lesufi emphasised the urgency of addressing water shortages, aging infrastructure, and governance issues affecting residents.
Gauteng has been facing persistent water supply challenges due to aging infrastructure, power outages, vandalism, and illegal connections. Municipalities have struggled to repair leaking pipes, while Rand Water’s reservoirs and pump stations have experienced disruptions, often linked to load shedding. Additional factors such as climate change, pollution, and high water consumption have placed further strain on the province’s water supply.
“I want to start first by apologising wholeheartedly to all those who, as we speak, struggle to access water in our province. This is completely unacceptable. We must intervene decisively and call for accountability for those that are failing us,” he said.
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Government’s response to water woes
To address these challenges, Lesufi outlined several steps aimed at improving Gauteng’s water security:
- *Operational Management Changes: Eskom and City Power have taken over operations at the Eikenhof and Emfuleni pumping stations to reduce disruptions caused by power failures.
- Infrastructure Maintenance: Repairs to leaking pipes and damaged infrastructure are underway to improve water distribution.
- Coordinated Oversight: A “war room” has been established in collaboration with municipalities to monitor and manage water supply more effectively.
- Long-Term Planning: Preparations are in place for the completion of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project in 2028, which will require significant upgrades to municipal water systems.
“We can’t claim to be a smart province and we still subject our people to this Stone Age problem. We don’t want to lament, we want to act,” he added.
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Reaction
Political analyst Dr. Levy Ndou noted that the premier’s focus on 13 pressing issues reflects concerns frequently raised by residents. However, he emphasised the importance of effective implementation and monitoring.
“The premier and his executive have been able to identify areas that appear to be on a daily basis on the lips of ordinary citizens. That is why he clearly indicated that if they cannot be able to address the 13 problems that have been identified, then they should forget about themselves being government,” he said in an interview with Newzroom Afrika shortly after the address.
“What I expect from the office of the premier now is to be able to develop programs and there should be a very good monitoring tools to monitor the activities of the 13 problems in terms of how they’re actually moving forward in dealing with these problems.”
Lesufi is running a minority government in Gauteng, after support for his party, the African National Congress (ANC), plunged below 50% in the 2024 provincial election. There is also a possibility that the Democratic Alliance (DA), an opposition party in the province, will table a motion of no-confidence against him in the weeks ahead.
