Water shortages hit parts of Johannesburg, adding to South Africa's crisis: Video

Residents in Tembisa, one of the city's most populous townships, are particularly hard-hit, struggling to secure water for basic needs.

A local resident who runs a nursery from her home, Joyce Lelaka, shared her frustration over the situation with the AFP, saying, " The kids need to wash their hands, we have to flush toilets, and yet there’s no water. Since Friday, we’ve been without water, and we were promised it would return by Saturday. But we’ve only heard about valve issues and a second dam being built in the Liliba section."

This ongoing water crisis, made worse by high temperatures, is the result of daily restrictions imposed by the city. Authorities cite over-consumption and the need for maintenance work as reasons behind the stringent measures. 

Tembisa resident Kego Moditswe echoed similar concerns. "It’s been nearly a week without washing anything. The water that does come helps a lot, but it’s never enough. We have kids, and there’s always a lot to wash," she said.

Rand Water, which supplies bulk water to Johannesburg, has acknowledged the severity of the issue. Spokesperson Makenosi Maroo revealed that over 40% of water is lost due to leaks within municipal systems. "We are losing an average of over 40 percent of water in Gauteng alone," she stated.

Thembi Msane, a member of the Mayoral Council, highlighted the steps the city has taken to address the crisis but noted that the situation remains largely out of their control. "We’ve built reservoirs and water towers with a capacity of 114 megalitres, enough to last the city for 48 hours. But we are not getting enough supply from Rand Water to fill these to capacity," she said. "Ultimately, 'Day Zero' is determined by Rand Water’s supply."

South Africa is already classified as a water-scarce country, with an average annual rainfall of 495mm - significantly below the global average of 990mm. Climate change is expected to worsen the situation. A report from the Global Commission on the Economics of Water suggests that under a moderate climate change scenario, where global emissions peak around 2040, South Africa could see a reduction in precipitation by as much as 25% by the end of the century.