News

Joburg’s water crisis: Residents left high and dry

No water plus not enough information plus inadequate planning equals a deluge of anger among residents

For the past two weeks, residents across Johannesburg have faced severe water shortages, with inadequate communication from the City and the water utilities. This is no longer a short-term crisis, b...

14.02.2025 00:03:32

SONA 2025 is clear as mud on water projects

WaterCAN welcomes the promise to prioritise water challenges, but wants clarity on spending and strong accountability

The attention to water in the President’s SONA 2025 is a welcome recognition of the urgent state of our water resources. There are some victories. WaterCAN has been advocating for the...

07.02.2025 21:55:38

Thank you to 3500 active citizens who signed on to help fix Joburg’s water infrastructure

WaterCAN delivers water infrastructure budget petition to the Speaker of the City of Joburg, and now we’re waiting for it to be discussed in council

During the Johannesburg Crises Alliance Summit on Saturday 25 January, WaterCAN, an initiative of OUTA, delivered a petition to the Speaker of the Johan...

29.01.2025 21:49:10

Join WaterCAN’s Call for Joburg to Rewrite the Water Budget

Sign WaterCAN’s petition calling on the City of Joburg to table an amended budget on 30 January with more funding for water and sanitation infrastructure

WaterCAN calls on the City of Johannesburg to table an adjustment budget which increases the capital spending on water and sanitation infrastructur...

16.01.2025 21:12:32

Increase Joburg Water’s capital budget to R3bn now

WaterCAN demands urgent action on Johannesburg’s water crisis

WaterCAN, an initiative of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), calls on the City of Johannesburg to urgently address the escalating water crisis by allocating sufficient funds in the City’s adjustment budget to its entity Johannesbu...

18.12.2024 00:14:37

Ensure basic water access before cut offs

Joburg and SA failure to manage water crisis is inexcusable

Routine water cuts lasting weeks in Joburg suburbs. Desperate residents on the streets begging for water tankers that don’t arrive. Inadequate management of leaks. Informal settlements “stealing” water cut off. This is what failed governanc...

06.12.2024 23:36:35

Postpone Rand Water’s December Shutdown

WaterCAN slams poor timing of Rand Water's planned shutdown amid ongoing Johannesburg water crisis, asks for shutdown to be reconsidered or alternatives to be explored to mitigate disruptions.

WaterCAN has expressed reservations about the planned maintenance by Rand Water at the Eikenhof and Z...

04.12.2024 21:24:08

Urgent High-Level Action Needed to Solve Sanitation Crisis

Inadequate sanitation facilities in South Africa, particularly in schools, highlight an urgent need for intervention, says WaterCAN. According to WaterCAN’s executive manager, Dr Ferrial Adam, the prevalence of pit latrines, the failing state of wastewater treatment, and children’s safety risks in s...

19.11.2024 20:53:18

Joburg’s water challenges: an ongoing struggle

As a nation, we must urgently change our relationship with water

Johannesburg is facing a severe water crisis that demands immediate and sustained action from authorities, businesses and residents. The recent water crisis meeting between the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, the Gauteng Premier, Rand...

13.11.2024 22:30:07

Municipalities continue to fail communities on water

Department spends billions on infrastructure, but communities still battle daily for water due to municipal ineptitude

Municipalities remain the biggest blockage in the water and sanitation systems. WaterCAN welcomes the detailed 100-days update provided by the Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy ...

07.11.2024 23:11:20