by Teboho | Sep 11, 2025 | Media Statements 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11 SEPTEMBER 2025
Executive Mayor Briefing on Johannesburg’s Water Challenges and Sustainable Solutions
Executive Mayor, Councillor Dada Morero, along with the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Councillor Jack Sekwaila, and the Managing Director of Johannesburg Water, Ntshavheni Mukwevho, will provide an update this afternoon on the ongoing water challenges facing the Commando system. They will also outline the measures being implemented to address these issues.
DETAILS
Venue: Danie Van Zyl Recreation Centre
Address: 105 Rex St, Newlands, Randburg, 2092
Time: 15:00
ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR
FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Khathutshelo Mulaudzi
Acting Director of Mayoral Communications
070 362 3295
For interviews with Johannesburg Water
Nolwazi Dlamini 078 606 5665
by Malehlohonolo Mohomane | Sep 10, 2025 | Media Statements 2025
10 September 2025 – 12:00
Media Statement
R800 million Investment Injected for Commando Systems
Johannesburg Water is injecting over R800 million for a sustainable solution into resolving and improving the Commando Systems’ challenges. The main challenge for the System is insufficient bulk infrastructure, that is, reservoirs, bulk lines and pump stations, making it enormously vulnerable to any disruptions.
The commando system supplies sizeable communities in the Brixton, Crosby and Hurst Hill 1 and Hurst Hill 2 supply zones including, Mayfair, Coronationville, Westdene, Westbury, some parts of Ackland Park, Langlaagte North, Pageview, Vrededorp, Sophiatown, Claremont, Braamfontein, Melville, and Emmarentia amongst others.
The Entity is on track to complete and commission the new Brixton reservoir (26 Ml) and tower (2.2Ml) by end of October 2025. We are further installing a new bulk line (4.5 km of diameter ranging from 600mm to 1000mm) and 2 new pump stations planned to be completed in December 2026.
Johannesburg Water has since appointed a contractor to refurbish the Hurst Hill 2 reservoir, the contractor will complete the assignment in May 2026. A contractor to refurbish Hurst Hill 1 reservoir (currently on bypass as it is leaking), will be appointed in November 2025 with the completion date planned for October 2026.
It is important to state that recovery of the Commando System takes longer after any disruption because of the insufficient bulk infrastructure and that the R800 million investment will alleviate the systems’ sensitivity to interruptions.
These projects are but part of the broader Johannesburg Water’s ten-year R32.5 billion capital investment to maintain, refurbish and expand City of Johannesburg’s water and sanitation infrastructure. In the current financial year, Johannesburg Water will spend some R1.7 billion towards water and sanitation infrastructure projects.
Furthermore, the Entity will continue with its water conservation and water demand management interventions to reduce the overall demand and wastage. We plead with residents to continue to observe Level 1 water restrictions and use water responsibly.
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Issued by Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing
by Teboho | Sep 5, 2025 | Media Statements 2025
5 September 2025 – 15:00
Media Release
“No Day Zero looming for Joburg”
These were the reassuring words from Johannesburg Water’s Managing Director, Ntshavheni Mukwevho, during Friday morning’s media briefing.
The Entity held a short presser to provide an update on the current state of Johannesburg’s water supply, with a strong focus on the water supply issues experienced by the Commando System.
“We have enough potable water coming through the system. However, the demand for potable water has increased and become higher over the years. That is why we are also appealing to users to please reduce consumption, over and above Johannesburg Water’s own internal efforts to manage demand,” said Mukwevho.
This increased demand for water supply is one of the reasons why the Commando System has been struggling with supply issues.
“The Commando System is our most sensitive system due to the lack of sufficient bulk infrastructure. It is precisely for that reason that the City of Johannesburg is investing over R600 million into upgrading this system, to improve the infrastructure and ensure a reliable water supply,” Mukwevho continued.
The upgrades of the Commando System (comprising of the Hursthill, Crosby, and Brixton systems) include the upgrading of the existing Crosby Pumpstation, including a new rising main from the Crosby Pumpstation to the inlet of the Hursthill Reservoir to augment and boost supply, as well as the upgrading of the supply line from the Commando Meter to the Hursthill and Crosby Reservoirs. This work is projected to be completed by December 2026.
Furthermore, Johannesburg Water’s construction of the new Brixton Reservoir and Tower is almost complete, with an estimated completion date of October 2025. This project aims to boost supply into the Commando System. The Hursthill 2 Reservoir will be repaired as part of WCWDM to refurbish leaking reservoirs, which all add to water losses.
Shorter-term strategies that the Entity is implementing to improve water supply and reduce water losses include the throttling (reducing the flow and pressure of water supply) of the systems, as well as retrofitting smart flow controllers to assist with reducing water losses, refurbishment of pressure reducing valves (PRVs) to help reduce the occurrence of burst pipes, as well as advanced leak detection.
“We want to ensure residents that Johannesburg Water is committed to ensuring these short term challenges are addressed. Thank you to our staff who are constantly on the ground working tirelessly to attend to service delivery issues; and thank you to our residents and customers for your patience and support during this time,” said Dineo Majavu, Johannesburg Water’s Board Chairperson.
The MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Cllr Jack Sekwaila, acknowledged the frustration and inconvenience water challenges have caused across the City.
“We have also witnessed the protests from various communities, particularly those that continually experience reduced to no water supply. It is imperative to note that the City does not deliberately deny residents water. The challenges occurring in areas struggling with consistent water supply is purely because of technical challenges and no malice on the part of Johannesburg Water.
“There is however a concerted effort by the Entity to reduce consumption across the City as part of the Water Conservation and Water Demand Management Strategy, thus the normalcy to reduced pressure and intermitted supply in the entire City. We fully understand the anger and anxiety being expressed by our communities where supply has been overly affected. We do not take it lightly and fully understand that no alternative supply can replace water supply coming from your tap. Johannesburg Water technical teams are employing various interventions aimed at gradually improving supply and optimising the system overall,” expressed Sekwaila.
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Issued by Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing.
by Teboho | Sep 1, 2025 | Media Statements 2025
1 September 2025 – 16:10
Customer Notice
Interim Water Supply Measures in Commando System Areas
Johannesburg Water is aware of the ongoing water supply challenges affecting high-lying suburbs supplied through the Commando System, including Westbury, Sophiatown, Coronationville and surrounding areas.
The Commando Systems comprises of the Brixton, Hursthill and Crosby reservoir complexes.
As a result, some high-lying areas are currently experiencing poor pressure or intermittent supply, while lower-lying areas continue to receive relatively stable supply.
Johannesburg Water technicians are employing various interventions aimed at gradually improving supply and optimising the system. However, residents are advised that there is currently no fixed timeframe for full recovery, as the Commando System is known to take time to stabilise once supply has been disrupted.
While major upgrades are underway to improve long-term reliability, Johannesburg Water has put the following interim measures in place to assist residents:
- Stationary and roaming water tankers are deployed daily in affected areas.
- Supply is prioritised for health facilities, schools, and old-age homes.
- Depots and standpipes are made available to supplement tanker runs where possible.
- Real-time monitoring of deliveries is in place to quickly respond to any late or missed runs.
- Closure of the Brixton and Hursthill outlets early from today, 1 September to build capacity so that there is supply in order to supply the high lying within the Commando system supply zone.
Regular updates will be provided as the systems gradually recover. Johannesburg Water remains committed to ensuring equitable access to water while system improvements are being rolled out.
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Issued by Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing
by Teboho | Aug 27, 2025 | Media Statements 2025
27 August 2025 – 17:15
Media Release
Update: Westbury, Coronationville, and surrounds water supply interventions
As part of the ongoing projects to improve water supply in Westbury, Westdene, Coronationville, Claremont, Sophiatown, and surrounding areas, Johannesburg Water will conduct an unplanned maintenance at the Crosby Pump Station from tonight, 27 August 2025, starting at 18:00, and will end at 04:00 on 28 August 2025.
This is an immediate intervention over and above the bigger and ongoing infrastructure upgrades being done through the Commando System Project, which may boost water supply from the Crosby Pump Station to the Hursthill 1 Reservoir supply zone, and could assist the abovementioned areas.
During this maintenance period, pumping to the Brixton Reservoir and boosting to the Hursthill 1 Reservoir will be unavailable. Both systems are expected to decline in levels, which may result in poor water pressure or intermittent supply.
The following areas may be affected: Industria, Crosby, Langlaagte, Longdale, Riverlea Extension 2, Bosmont, Claremont, Coronationville, and Westbury.
The maintenance is planned to take approximately 10 hours; however, it may take longer for the system to regain full capacity. Johannesburg Water will continuously monitor the impact of the changes made and respond to any challenges encountered with urgency and as practically as possible.
Once completed, the work could improve pumping capacity to the Brixton Reservoir and Hursthill 1 supply zone. Due to current system constraints and high demand, imbalances may still occur, and as such, the Enity will respond to any challenges encountered with urgency and as practically as possible. Johannesburg Water continues to implement tactical interventions to restore and balance the system for equitable distribution within the Commando system.
The Commando System consists of the Hursthill, Crosby, and Brixton Systems, and there are various projects being executed in a phased approach to improve the overall Commando System.
The Entity remains consistent with ongoing efforts to ensure a reliable and long-term water supply through the upgrading of existing infrastructure and the provision of new water infrastructure for additional capacity to support higher-density areas.
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Issued by Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing.
by Teboho | Jul 23, 2025 | Media Statements 2025
23 July 2025 – 13:00
Media Release
Johannesburg Water takes over billing function from CoJ to improve efficiency
Johannesburg Water has assumed full responsibility for the water and sanitation billing functions previously managed by the City of Johannesburg’s (CoJ) Revenue Shared Services Centre (RSSC), effective 1 July 2025.
This significant development marks a new era in service delivery and customer care for residents and businesses across the city.
“This strategic transition marks a turning point in our continuous commitment to improve service delivery, enhance operational efficiency, and improving accuracy in billing, therefore ensuring greater accountability in our customer billing processes,” says Johannesburg Water’s Managing Director, Ntshavheni Mukwevho.
The transfer includes the full scope of billing operations related to water and sanitation services, and Johannesburg Water has put systems, staff capacity, and customer support mechanisms in place to ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption to services.
The customer will continue to receive one consolidated statement reflecting all services, including rates, electricity, refuse, water, and sanitation. It is important to note that invoicing for these services remains the responsibility of CoJ. Currently, the billing queries are still being logged through the normal CoJ Call Centre and Regional Offices.
“By managing billing internally, Johannesburg Water will be better positioned to respond directly to customer queries, address discrepancies swiftly, and introduce innovations tailored to our customers’ needs.”
Customers can expect:
- Enhanced accuracy in monthly water bills
- Faster resolution of billing queries
- Greater transparency and direct communication with Johannesburg Water
The transition process has been carefully planned in coordination with the CoJ to ensure continuity of service and minimal disruption to residents. Johannesburg Water and the CoJ are also exploring how queries logged through our Call Centre can be integrated into the City’s Customer Relationship Management system to assist in resolving billing queries.
“We thank the CoJ for their collaboration and support in this transition, and we look forward to continuing to serve the residents of Johannesburg with increased efficiency and responsiveness,” said Mukwevho.
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Issued by Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing.
Email queries to: jw.media@jwater.co.za
