The Gauteng Provincial Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting interventions aimed at restoring stable water and sanitation services within Emfuleni Local Municipality following submissions made during the ongoing South African Human Rights Commission hearings into Gauteng water challenges.
During the hearings, Municipal Manager April Ntuli outlined the extent of infrastructure and financial challenges facing the municipality, including aging infrastructure, sewer spillages, intermittent water supply, illegal water connections, electricity outages, and significant non-revenue water losses currently estimated at approximately 70%.
The municipality indicated that these losses continue to place severe pressure on municipal finances and negatively affect its ability to meet financial obligations to Rand Water. As a result, municipal revenue generated through rates and taxes is often redirected to address waterrelated obligations and operational pressures.
Ntuli explained that Emfuleni has spent approximately R79 million over the past five years on water tankering interventions aimed at providing relief to 33 informal settlements that currently lack adequate infrastructure and emergency relief to affected communities.
He said some of the measures being implemented to improve service delivery, including infrastructure rehabilitation programmes, enhanced operational interventions, strengthening of human resource capacity, and the development of a long-term water and sanitation master plan.
In addition, he noted that the establishment of the Vaal Corporation Water Utility (VCWU), a Special Purpose Vehicle will manage, operate, and rehabilitate water and sanitation services within Emfuleni Local Municipality. The utility is expected to become operational on 1 July 2026.
Ntuli acknowledged improvements achieved since the implementation of Section 63 under the Water Services Act intervention measures, where the national government took over the municipality’s water and sanitation services. This has contributed towards stabilising governance and operational systems within the municipality.
The Gauteng Provincial Government remains committed to working with municipalities, water entities, and all stakeholders to accelerate infrastructure renewal, reduce water losses, improve revenue management, and ensure communities receive reliable access to clean water and dignified sanitation services.
