DA heads to court over deepening Johannesburg water crisis

By Lebone Rodah Mosima and Charmaine Ndlela

The DA has announced plans to take the City of Johannesburg to court over its failure to provide essential water services, as protests flared in Parktown, Melville and surrounding suburbs.

The announcement was made on Wednesday at Nkululeko House in Bruma, Johannesburg.

DA federal chairperson Helen Zille said the party would take both Johannesburg Water and the City of Johannesburg to court following two years of legal consultations.

“We want to ensure that they implement the turnaround strategy to end the crisis and fulfil their constitutional duty to provide residents and businesses with access to clean, reliable water,” Zille said.

She argued that R4 billion could be invested in infrastructure instead of being spent on water tankers, and said the court action would seek accountability for alleged corruption and mismanagement.

Parts of the city have reportedly been without water for up to 24