There’s no water crisis in Tshwane, here’s what’s really going on

By Mapaballo Borotho

Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya says the city is not facing a water shortage but struggling with infrastructure failures and water losses.
She outlined efforts to stabilise supply, including fixing leaks and upgrading systems.
Her remarks come amid growing concerns over sewage failures and declining performance in the metro.

If you thought there was a water crisis in City of Tshwane, Executive Mayor Nasiphi Moya has a different view.

Moya pushed back against claims that the metro is deteriorating and facing a water crisis while addressing the media at the University of South Africa in Pretoria on Thursday, 16 April 2026.

She clarified that the city’s challenge is not a shortage of water supply, but significant water losses caused by ageing infrastructure, leaks and system inefficiencies.

“There’s no lack of bulk supply. The city meets a demand of 800 to 900 million litres per day through a mix of procurement and internal production,” she said.

According to Moya, about 72% of Tshwane’s water is sourced from Rand Water, which supplies over 600 million litres daily, while additional supply comes from Magalies Water. The remaining 28% is produced internally.

Her comments come amid ongoing concerns about water and sanitation in the metro, including a directive giving the city 60 days to fix failing sewage treatment plants.

The 2025 Green Drop Report shows Tshwane’s performance has dropped sharply from 82% in 2013 to below 34%, highlighting serious operational and governance challenges.

What happens when a city fails to manage its sewage systems – and what it means for residents

Moya acknowledged long-standing issues in areas such as Hammanskraal and Bronkhorstspruit, which have faced water challenges for years, including a deadly cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal.

She said the city has introduced a Water Stabilisation Plan aimed at improving infrastructure, fixing leaks, reducing illegal connections and strengthening monitoring systems.

In Mamelodi, she noted that water supply has been restored in areas like Ikageng and Mahube Valley Ext 3 after more than six years of unreliable access.

Moya added that the Tshwane coalition government remains committed to building a water-secure city despite ongoing challenges.