JOHANNESBURG - Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina says water will be redirected to parts of cities battling prolonged water cuts from areas that have had a steady supply.
Majodina says the intervention will help reservoirs reach levels above 40 percent.
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She explains that when water levels drop below 40%, it affects pumping capacity — meaning residents in higher-lying areas struggle to access water.
As the department embarks on its water rotation strategy, Majodina has assured residents that areas currently receiving water will not be left dry, but may experience reduced pressure.
“When they open their taps there still will be water, but it won't be a high pressure as we are trying to share water to areas that don’t have,” Majodina said.
Communities and households across various parts of the country continue to struggle with limited or no access to water.
Meanwhile, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is calling for the ongoing water crisis to be declared a national disaster.
But it has also cautioned that declaring a national state of disaster must not create opportunities for corruption or the misappropriation of funds.
Majodina said there is no need for a national disaster declaration as most reservoirs have stabilised.