By Loxion News Staff Writer
Merafong, Gauteng – Residents of the Merafong City Local Municipality continue to suffer under a worsening water crisis as taps remain dry across several communities. The ongoing water outages are a direct result of rationing by Rand Water, which has significantly reduced supply due to the municipality’s staggering R1.4 billion debt.
Areas such as Fochville, Carletonville, and surrounding parts of the West Rand are among the hardest hit, with entire neighbourhoods reporting no water for days. The reservoirs supplying these regions are now completely depleted, sparking fears of a full-blown humanitarian crisis as the summer heat approaches.
According to Cllr Carl Steenekamp, Democratic Alliance (DA) Chief Whip in Merafong, the situation is “persisting and deteriorating” daily, with no signs of a solution in sight.
“Rand Water’s system storage has collapsed from 55% to just below 40%. The effect is a throttled supply across Gauteng, and Merafong is bearing the brunt of it,” said Steenekamp.
DA Calls for Urgent Government Intervention
The DA says it is engaging with its representatives in both the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and National Assembly to push for an urgent and sustainable intervention. The party is calling for greater accountability from the municipality and is urging all stakeholders to prioritise the restoration of water supply to affected communities.
“We have created dedicated communication channels to facilitate coordination between residents who still have access to boreholes and those who don’t,” said Steenekamp.
With summer temperatures on the rise, the demand for water is expected to surge. Without immediate corrective action, the municipality risks pushing residents into a season marked by extreme water insecurity, health risks, and social instability.
What This Means for Merafong Residents
- Fochville is entirely without water as local reservoirs are dry.
- Carletonville and neighbouring areas face prolonged outages.
- Rand Water’s system-wide storage crisis is worsening.
- The municipality’s R1.4 billion debt continues to hinder resolution.
- A summer crisis looms if water infrastructure and supply are not urgently addressed.
The DA in Merafong vows to continue pressuring municipal and provincial leadership to act swiftly. “We cannot allow our communities to endure a catastrophic summer due to administrative negligence and financial mismanagement,” Steenekamp concluded.
