Urgent Action Required to Address Water Leaks and Failing Water Systems in Government Facilities

A large number of public institutions in Gauteng Province are experiencing severe water waste as a result of inadequate water management procedures. The province’s continuing water shortage is being exacerbated by this inefficiency, which is adding to the strain already placed on Gauteng’s water supply.

ActionSA Gauteng has undertaken significant visits to many regions of the province following the 2024 elections and one recurring issue identified by those communities is the poor water and sanitation infrastructure in government facilities near them.

Whether it is public schools like Maxeke Secondary School in Emfuleni or Coronationville Secondary School in Johannesburg, there is a troubling trend of massive water leaks and poor water infrastructure across these facilities, which are owned and controlled by the provincial government. These leaks and failures contribute directly to Gauteng’s on-going water issue.

Sewage leaks in government buildings also make the problem worse and represent a major health danger to the public. These breaches expose vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and the sick to harmful and unsanitary circumstances, endangering their health.

ActionSA Gauteng’s Call to Action:
1. Immediate Repair of Leaks – We demand that the government prioritises fixing leaks in all public facilities as proposed by the Department of Water and Sanitation.
2. Upgraded Water Infrastructure – An urgent review and upgrade of water systems in all government buildings is required to prevent recurring failures.
3. Accountability from Municipalities – Municipalities must be held accountable for maintaining infrastructure and must stop shifting blame onto Rand Water.
4. Transparent Water Audits – All public institutions in the province must conduct regular audits on water usage and report on steps taken to reduce wastage.

Finger-pointing and short-term solutions are no longer sufficient to handle this situation. Better management of public resources is something that the people of Gauteng deserve. Residents and businesses are put under additional stress the longer water leaks in government facilities continue. We cannot let people who are currently facing water restrictions suffer even more because of poor management.

ActionSA Gauteng is committed to ensuring that government is held responsible and that workable solutions are put into place. To keep things from getting worse, we implore the province’s leaders to take prompt, decisive action.

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