Water rights at risk: Johannesburg communities urge immediate government intervention

Johannesburg’s worseningwater crisiswasacknowledgedon the national stage in President Cyril Ramaphosa’sState of the Nationaddress (Sona) last week — yet for residents living with dry taps, political recognition is not enough. On Wednesday, the People’s Water Forum, a collective of community organisations, activists and water experts, welcomed the strong language in the Sona and the engagement by political parties in their responses. However, they argued that “statements in the Sona are not enough”.

“Firm words are necessary but it must be recognised that this issue has received long overdue national attention because of sustained civil society action,” the forum said at a media briefing. The forum, which has organised protests, marches and memorandums demanding action from the City of Johannesburg, said it awaited a direct response from the Presidency to a letter endorsed by more than 160 organisations and 3 500 individuals, which was sent on 10 February. “That response must be followed by concrete action that reaches every community, especially the most marginalised who carry the heaviest burden of this crisis.” The letter set out how Johannesburg’s deepening water crisis has become a national emergency requiring urgent intervention.

It described widespread andprolonged outages across suburbsand townships alike, with some areas without reliable water for weeks at a time, affecting households, schools, clinics and businesses. The letter argued that the crisis was no longer an inconvenience but a public health threat that entrenched inequality and undermined dignity. The groups stressed that the crisis was not primarily caused by drought but by chronic infrastructure neglect, massive water losses, governance failures at Joburg Water and poor coordination between city, provincial and national authorities.

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They criticised the growing reliance on water tankers, saying those were being normalised as a substitute for a functioning system, particularly in informal settlements, and warned that the approach was unsustainable and harmful. Johannesburg was unable to resolve the crisis on its own and the signatories urged the president to declare a national disaster, unlock emergency funding, appoint an independent intervention team and ensure transparent reporting. They also called for equitable protection of vulnerable communities, clearer restrictions developed with residents and a parallel commission of inquiry into the systemic collapse of the city’s water and sanitation system.

Communities and organisations have tracked failures, demanded transparency and escalated lived realities on the ground, the forum said on Wednesday. “When residents took to the streets, [the] government was compelled to listen”.

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