Overview
- Rand Water started phase one of a multiweek maintenance programme on 29 May, temporarily shutting pumps and equipment and risking low pressure or outages across Johannesburg and other municipalities.
- The work targets the Palmiet, Zuikerbosch and Mapleton systems and includes Eskom‑coordinated electrical work plus replacement of motors, valves and thrust bearings to improve long‑term reliability.
- Gauteng COGTA and MEC Jacob Mamabolo opened a provincial water security operations centre, directed municipalities to ensure tanker capacity and ordered intensified monitoring and rapid response.
- Several Johannesburg areas were already suffering unplanned bursts and localized outages before the scheduled shutdowns, prompting urgent repairs and immediate tanker deployments to vulnerable communities.
- Residents are urged to store water for essential needs and use it sparingly because systems may take several days to recover after each maintenance phase and some schools, industries and direct customers could be affected.