‘We want to close down and leave for good’: Joburg businesses without water for nine months

Neil Darling, owner of Optimum Clutch in Selby, Johannesburg, on 11 February 2026. Picture: James Oatway/OUR CITY NEWS Businesses operating in Park Central, Selby, say they have been without a permanent water supply for almost nine months, forcing them to rely on water tankers and manual container filling just to keep their operations running. Despite the prolonged disruption, business owners say they continue to pay monthly municipal rates and service charges, including water bills, for a service they do not receive.

The ongoing shortage has also created serious health, safety, operational, and financial challenges, placing both livelihoods and jobs at risk. According to business owners, the lack of running water has severely affected productivity and increased operating costs, while also making it difficult to comply with legal health and safety requirements. They are expected to meet legal, health and safety standards without access to running water.

“If there’s a fire here, we would have no ability to put it out because there’s no water,” said Neil Darling, a business owner at Optimum Clutch System. Darling added that businesses are increasingly concerned about insurance implications, fearing that claims may be rejected due to non-compliance with safety requirements caused by the water outage. Businesses dealing with paper and furniture are particularly exposed to fire risks.

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“We are getting charged for water that we don’t even get. The system is very pathetic,” said Nelson Fernandez, who owns three businesses in the area. Fernandez explained that the absence of clear communication from the municipality has added to the frustration faced by business owners. “As a business owner, I need to buy water for my staff to drink, because if they get sick, who is going to take responsibility?” he said.

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