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The DA calls for urgent intervention and backup energy supply at pump stations as protests erupt due to a lack of water supply.

The continued blackouts coupled with years of ANC mismanagement and failing to upgrade necessary and critical water infrastructure throughout South Africa is at the core of the water shortages in Gauteng.

The ANC-engineered electricity crisis and loadshedding is negatively impacting Rand Water’s ability to supply our reservoirs in Gauteng with water. Water reserves in Gauteng remain low or empty because of power cuts and increased consumption because of the hot weather.

Loadshedding has been a problem since 2007 and no viable plan has been made to ensure that these critical pump stations are able to continue pumping water while experiencing loadshedding.

Because of the ongoing power outages, reservoirs do not fill to capacity. This has an impact on the pressure in the distribution pipe network. Because of the low pressure, higher-lying suburbs may have limited or no water supply.

While bad ANC governance is to blame for the situation, we also call on Rand Water, to turn its ship around. The State owned entity has irregular expenditure, which could have been used to upgrade critical rand water infrastructure.

We fear that these water restrictions could lead to widespread civil unrest, and therefore call for immediate intervention.

Issued by Leon Basson MP - DA Shadow Minister of Water and Sanitation