Manyane Manyane|Published17 hours agoGauteng water crisis, Tembisa hospital: How will Lesufi respond?

Johannesburg’s water infrastructure problems leave families without water, forcing many to rely on scarce and unreliable tankers. As Gauteng grapples with a dual crisis of acute water shortages and rampant organised crime within its government institutions, Premier Panyaza Lesufi is facing mounting pressure to outline a robust plan for addressing these urgent issues. The call for accountability has intensified following the alarming revelation that over R2 billion was looted fromTembisa Hospital.

Lesufi is expected to deliver the 2026 State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Monday evening at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg. His address takes place as the province faces a severe and escalating water crisis, as residents in various municipalities experienced intermittent supply, with some areas left without water for weeks. Opposition parties, particularly the DA, have criticised Lesufi for “empty promises” and failing to address infrastructure priorities identified in previous years.

Organisations such as WaterCan have warned that parts of Johannesburg are effectively living under “Day Zero” conditions due to management and infrastructure failures. SOPA also comes amid intense criticism against Lesufi regarding a perceived lack of accountability and inaction regarding the looting at the Tembisa Hospital.