Residents from Venterspos, Bekkersdal, Glenhavie and Zuurbekom in Rand West City Local Municipality have experienced disproportionate water shortages in the past months. Communities in Kokosi, Fochville, Greenspark and surrounding areas are facing intermittent or no supply of water in Merafong Local Municipality. Inspections by the Commission have revealed that the ongoing water supply challenges are not sporadic occurrences but are a result of systemic infrastructure decay, supply limitations and insufficient operational resilience.

Some of the water supply shortages have also been attributed to the reduction in Rand Water’s supply to the municipalities due to the failure by the two municipalities to service their payment obligations with Rand Water. The Commission on 10 December 2025, convened a meeting with the municipalities of Rand West and Merafong together with Rand Water. The meeting was purposed to explore short, medium and long-term remedial measures to address the ongoing water supply shortages in the two municipalities.

Rand Water indicated that the municipal debt burden constitutes an ongoing threat to its financial sustainability and ability to provide services. Rand Water highlighted that the debt owed to it by Rand West City Local Municipality was about R964 million, while Merafong Local Municipality owed over R1,5 billion. As a result, Rand Water has been forced to implement water restrictions/curtailment as a measure for credit control. Currently, water supply to Merafong Local Municipality and Rand West City Local Municipality has been reduced by 40% and 20%, respectively.

All the parties acknowledged that water is a constitutional and fundamental human right and any disruption in its supply has dire consequences for the residents with schools, clinics and many other vulnerable sectors of the society acutely affected. The curtailment of water supply further compounds the hardships faced by residents in the municipalities. The parties made several resolutions aimed at addressing the ongoing water supply challenges.

It was resolved that:

1. Merafong Local Municipality will:
1. Implement the revised Debt Settlement Agreement (DSA) entered into with Rand Water on 10 December 2025.
2. Continue with its communication plan to alert residents of water supply disruptions.
3. Finalise the discussions with Rand Water on the establishment of a Special Purpose Vehicle Company.
4. Continue to implement interventions to enhance revenue collection.
2. Rand West City Local Municipality will:
1. Continue with its communication plan to alert residents of water supply disruptions.
2. Provide  a proposal to Rand Water on how the R74 million current account debt owed to Rand Water will be liquidated.
3.  Continue to ring-fence revenue generated from the supply of water.
4. Expedite revenue enhancement collection strategies to ensure improved revenue from the supply of water.
5. Immediately commence with measures to tackle the high water distribution losses which currently stand at 51%.
3. Rand Water will:
1. Consider the proposals made by Rand West City Local Municipality regarding the liquidation of the R74 million current account debt and if satisfied enter a revised DSA with Rand West City Local Municipality and uplift the water restrictions.
2. Report back to the SAHRC by Friday, 12 December 2025 regarding outcomes of the proposals on the liquidation of the R74 million current account debt and the conclusion of the DSA and upliftment of water restrictions.
3. Continue discussions with Merafong Local Municipality and Rand West City Local Municipality on the establishment of a Special Purpose Vehicle Company and conduct joint campaigns for public awareness.
4. The SAHRC will:
1. Continue to monitor the situation to ensure that water supply is restored to normal in both municipalities.
2. Institute accountability mechanisms to ensure that all parties adhere to their commitments.

 The Commission maintains that the ongoing water supply challenges have a detrimental and direct impact on several rights, such as health, education and dignity. Therefore, the Commission commends Rand Water, Merafong Local Municipality and Rand West City Local Municipality for committing to tackle the water supply challenges. It is through synergy, coordinated action, shared practical solutions and accountability that the water supply crisis will be resolved. The Commission remains invested in the process of restoring dignity and securing the human rights of affected residents.

Ends

Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission