Water and Sanitation restores full operations at Zuikerbosch
Government acknowledges the significant hardship and disruption experienced by households, businesses, and communities across Gauteng, particularly in the three metros of Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni, following the motor explosion at Rand Water's Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Plant on Tuesday, 27 January 2026. We deeply regret the inconvenience, distress, and economic impact caused by low water pressure, temporary outages, and widespread supply interruptions, which were exacerbated by high water consumption during this period.
In response, the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, led by Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, convened an urgent stakeholder meeting last night, 30 January 2026, with Rand Water, the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Gauteng Provincial Government, the City of Johannesburg, and Johannesburg Water.
The MEC for Infrastructure Development and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) in Gauteng, Mr Jacob Mamabolo, together with the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Mr Dada Morero, joined the urgent stakeholder meeting to provide detailed updates on the ongoing recovery efforts and local impact.
The meeting received a comprehensive update on the incident, assessed its impact, and coordinated action to accelerate recovery and bolster long-term system resilience.
The meeting commended Rand Water for its competent, prompt, and effective response in containing the situation and working tirelessly around the clock to complete emergency repairs. Government is pleased to confirm that full operations at Zuikerbosch have been restored, with all booster stations - Palmiet, Eikenhof, Mapleton, and Zwartkopjes - now pumping at full capacity.
Reservoir levels in the affected systems are recovering steadily, and customers should see gradual improvements in water pressure and supply over the coming hours and days as the network stabilises.
The meeting also noted and appreciated Johannesburg Water's proactive intervention in deploying additional water tankers to alleviate pressure on businesses and communities during the disruption.
While the swift recovery is encouraging, the incident underscores the need for greater resilience in Gauteng's water supply system. Government remains committed to supporting investments in infrastructure upgrades, including expanded reservoir capacity, to build a more robust and reliable bulk water system for the province.
Johannesburg requires increased water storage capacity in reservoirs to better buffer against unpredictable events like this explosion. In this regard, Johannesburg Water is investing over R32 billion in water services infrastructure over the next ten years across the City.
Part of this investment will go towards water storage capacity.
Enhancing storage will ensure that accidents or technical failures have minimal impact on communities, preventing severe disruptions even during high-demand periods or unexpected incidents. Government extends its sincere apology to all affected residents, businesses, and stakeholders. We greatly appreciate the patience, understanding, and cooperation shown throughout this challenging time.
Rand Water and Johannesburg Water will continue their close collaboration to restore uninterrupted supply fully and provide ongoing updates. Residents are encouraged to contact their local water utility or Rand Water's Customer Care line for assistance.
Enquiries:
Cornelius Monama
Cell: 083 271 0808
E-mail: monamac@dws.gov.za
Wisane Mavasa
Cell: 060 561 8931
E-mail: mavasaw@dws.gov.za
Makenosi Maroo
072 545 5041
E-mail: mmaroo@randwater.co.za
Khathutshelo Mulaudzi
070 362 3295
E-mail: KhathutsheloMul@joburg.org.za
Nondumiso Mabuza
Cell: 060 555 3156
E-mail: nondumiso.mabuza@jwater.co.za
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