Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero will appear before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation on Friday to account for the growing water problems across the City of Johannesburg.

Morero will also appear with the Joburg Water MD to discuss the issues in Joburg.

Ahead of the briefing, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and ActionSA are seeking answers and transparency.

“For months the DA has exposed the City’s failing water system. From leaks that run for years without repair, to Rand Water reservoir levels plunging, and most recently, the R4-billion that Mayor Morero quietly shifted away from Johannesburg Water while residents were left queuing at tankers,” said DA spokesperson on Water & Sanitation Stephen Moore.

Last week, the party called for a full overhaul of the City’s entities and requested that National Treasury investigate Joburg’s water tanker contracts.

DA Johannesburg Caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said water tankers had long been suspected of being used as “cash cows” for politically connected cadres, claiming that the enabling force behind this was the sabotage of water towers.

The party had since called on Morero to dissolve what it said was the “cadre-filled board” of Joburg Water and to also appoint fit-for -purpose engineers and experienced individuals to run the entity.

The DA also wants Morero to fast-track the repair of Hursthill and Brixton reservoirs that supply Westbury and Coronationville and to put measures in place that enable private investors to construct water towers and distribution systems.

Moore said that during Friday‘s briefing, the DA wanted Morero to explain why he had let the water issues deteriorate and whether he would support Johannesburg Water in adopting a workable plan.

He must also answer on how he justifies, as mayor, cutting billions from water infrastructure when people can’t even rely on a working tap, Moore said.

TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Meanwhile, ActionSA demands that Morero fulfil his promise of a sustainable water supply in Ward 82, in Johannesburg.

The party has urged Morero to prioritise transparency and community involvement in finding a sustainable solution.

“We condemn corrupt practices, such as water tanker mafias, and demand equitable water distribution that restores trust between residents and authorities. Residents have endured nearly a decade of inconsistent water supply from Joburg Water, often without warning or a clear timeframe for restoration,” said ActionSA Joburg's Councillor Edwin Ntshidi.

The situation in Johannesburg is exacerbated by frequent power outages, which need urgent attention,” he said.

“…failed promises and baseless excuses from Joburg Water have pushed residents to a breaking point, resulting in violent protests,” he highlighted.

ActionSA welcomed the provision of 15 water tankers as a temporary measure but emphasised the need for a long-term solution.

With the self-imposed deadline for resolving the water crisis expiring on Thursday, the party cautioned against further delays, which Ntshidi said may lead to more protests and potential destruction of public property.

Residents in Johannesburg have taken to the streets since the beginning of the month, owing to water supply issues.

ActionSA called on the City of Johannesburg to provide a sustainable water supply and to also address power outages.