A small group of Democratic Alliance members, led by their leader John Steenhuisen, picketed outside Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand where Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu held a meeting with water services authorities on October 6.
The meeting was attended by Rand Water and Magalies Water Board as well as executive mayors of the City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane and City of Ekurhuleni and mayors of Sedibeng and West Rand District Municipalities. According to a statement issued about the meeting, the Gauteng ministerial visit will also engage water and sanitation forums, water users associations and catchment management agencies.
Speaking on his first three-day Gauteng Provincial visit on 5 October at a meeting with various stakeholders, deputies ministers and a provincial government led by Gauteng Premier David Makhura, Mchunu expressed concerns over growing incidents of vandalism of water infrastructure and the status of water and sanitation delivery focusing on governance, finance and service delivery.
In a statement issued, Gauteng Premier David Makhura said, “Water supply interruptions in Gauteng are becoming a norm, these are worrying developments because water is life.”
Speaking to media outside centre, DA leader John Steenhuisen with DA leaders and councillors, expressed concern for water issues in Gauteng and said people need a solution to the problem.
Ward 132 councillor Annette Deppe said, “The dams are 80% full, we don’t understand why there are water issues in Gauteng. Obviously, there is an infrastructure or management issue. It is time to end this water crisis, Rand Water must rise to the demand.”
This is a developing story, more information will be provided as it becomes available.