Midrand: The Gauteng Provincial Government has established an Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) Water Operations Centre to facilitate and coordinate responses aimed at stabilising water supply across the province. The Water IGR Operations Centre brings together national government departments, Rand Water, metropolitan and local municipalities, and key provincial entities.
According to South African Government News Agency, the purpose of the centre is to strengthen coordination, enable real-time system monitoring, improve joint decision-making, and provide a single source of verified information on the state of the provincial water system. Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo, emphasized the importance of cooperation and collaboration, stating that the province has sufficient water supply and is focusing on addressing challenges that cause supply interruptions, dismissing suggestions of a "day zero" scenario.
The Operations Centre was activated at the Provincial Disaster Management Centre in Midrand, following a high-level IGR meeting convened by MEC Mamabolo. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has tasked Mamabolo with ensuring a speedy resolution to the challenges, prioritising the restoration of services, and urgently working through the IGR platform to resolve all issues.
The provincial government acknowledged structural challenges facing Gauteng's water network, such as high consumption, ageing infrastructure, non-revenue water, and rapid population growth. Despite early signs of recovery through measures like pressure management and reservoir throttling, storage levels remain under pressure.
Through the Water IGR, immediate interventions are being fast-tracked, including leak detection and repair, reservoir refurbishment, operational support to municipalities, and the strengthening of early-warning and communication systems. Efforts are also underway to support municipalities in developing credible funding proposals to unlock medium- and long-term investment in critical water infrastructure.