By Lebone Rodah Mosima
Residents of Mountain View in Ward 06 (Grasmere) say they have endured water shortages for more than 30 years, calling on the City of Johannesburg (COJ) to end delays and what they describe as empty promises.
Joburg mayor Dada Morero, accompanied by officials and stakeholders, met residents on Friday to discuss infrastructure challenges, water supply constraints and unemployment.
Morero said progress hinges on the adoption of the city’s upcoming budget.
“We are at a stage where, if we pass the budget and it is sufficient, we will be able to invest in sewer pipelines,” he said.
He said the city plans to prioritise interventions in Mountain View, including the rollout of ventilated improved pit (VIP) toilets, with phase one budgeted at R1,600 and a further R1,200 allocated for completion.
Morero said the city needs to approve a capital expenditure budget of about R8.9 billion by June to fund water and sanitation infrastructure.
“We will pass the budget to begin building proper sewer infrastructure. Before that process starts, we need to secure water supply,” he said.
He added that an existing sewer line to Sebokeng, linked to a treatment plant, has capacity but requires expansion — a project being explored jointly by Emfuleni Local Municipality and the COJ.
In the interim, Morero said Joburg Water is engaging with eThekwini Municipality on funding requirements to expand treatment plant capacity and avoid disruptions during upgrades.
He also noted that a water use licence from national government is required to supply water from planned boreholes.
Joburg Water representative Nico Singh said the utility plans to roll out VIP toilets and implement nine borehole projects across Johannesburg in partnership with its research and development unit.
“We anticipate gradually bringing water into the area. The first borehole will extract, treat, store and distribute water through pipelines,” Singh said.
Morero urged residents to cooperate with the city, adding that officials would return after June 16 to provide feedback on the budget process.
“Our aim is to improve living conditions in Johannesburg’s townships,” he said.
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