Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane on Friday morning visited the control room of State-owned water utility Rand Water to inspect the flow of water levels at its reservoirs, and was scheduled to meet with the Gauteng Premier David Makhura’s Coordinating Forum on Friday afternoon to discuss the current water supply interruptions, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) said in a statement.

Makhura on Thursday said he would receive a report on Friday on the water situation in Gauteng. 

Further, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation would also on Friday hold an urgent meeting with Rand Water to understand and find solutions to the continuing water shortages.

"This meeting was necessitated by the growing discontent among residents as well as the need on the committee’s side to get progress report on initiatives to solve the problem. The committee will also seek solutions on how the country can deal with overall challenge of vandalism and theft," the committee said in a statement, adding that it would also do a site inspection at the Palmiet Pump Station.

Mokonyane's visit to the Rand Water control room followed a meeting between the Minister and Rand Water officials on Thursday, during which she had been provided with a full status report on the water interruptions.

At this meeting, Mokonyane urged Rand Water to work together more closely with its stakeholders, engaging the MEC, mayors, ward councillors and community leaders.

The DWS also indicated that it would set up a war room, involving all stakeholders, to ensure that looming problems, such as the current water supply interruptions in Gauteng, could be foreseen and provided for in future.

The DWS added that a hotline would also be established to ensure that constant feedback was given, with a multidisciplinary team consisting of all stakeholders to drive the content of the feedback system.

Rand Water had also resolved to form a joint operations committee with stakeholders to ensure a coordinated effort to deal with the situation.

Further, Rand Water acceded that there might have been internal issues that might have been handled better and vowed that in future the board would “intensely improve” on matters of operation.

Meanwhile, Mokonyane also cautioned Rand Water to work more closely with communities and improve on its communication.

The Minister said Rand Water had the responsibility to timeously alert and educate communities on all matters relating to water challenges, including unforeseen water interruptions and remedial steps to be taken.

“Remember that, as a board, you have a responsibility towards the communities you serve and to close the disjuncture between your commitment to the communities and what is eventually delivered,” Mokonyane said.

Rand Water COO Sipho Mosai earlier this week explained that the water shortages, which first started in the west of Johannesburg on September 15, were caused by power outages, which coincided with the expected increase in water demand as the season changed from winter to spring.

Ageing infrastructure and vandalism were also said to have contributed to the problem.

At the meeting on Thursday evening, Rand Water agreed to work on restoring the confidence among affected communities, as well as those who are consumers of the Rand Water services, DWS said, adding that, going forward, the utility would provide updates four times a day to keep residents up to date with the latest developments in the water supply issue.

According to reports on Friday morning two suburbs in Johannesburg – South Hills and Rabie Ridge – and two in Ekurhuleni – Bedfordview and Primrose – were still without water.