Gauteng has launched a high-powered “water war room” to fight ongoing supply interruptions hitting communities across the province.
The new Intergovernmental Water Operations Centre, based in Midrand, was activated this week to coordinate emergency responses, monitor the system in real time and fast-track solutions to stabilise supply.
The move follows urgent instructions from Premier Panyaza Lesufi, with Cooperative Governance MEC Jacob Mamabolo leading ground operations — including inspections at key hotspots in Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and soon Tshwane.
Government says the province is not heading for “Day Zero”, but admits ageing infrastructure, high demand, leaks and rapid population growth are putting the system under serious pressure.
Emergency fixes already under way include leak repairs, reservoir upgrades and stronger communication systems to warn residents about outages earlier.
Officials say the focus now is simple: stop the interruptions and keep Gauteng’s taps running.
