JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has apologised for his remarks on the province’s ongoing water crisis.
He told Johannesburg residents that he, too, faces water cuts and sometimes has to shower at hotels, comments that caused a stir on social media.
Lesufi says it was never his intention to suggest that water shortages affect people differently based on their position in society.
“People think that if there is no water, us, our families, we've got special water, we don't. I mean, in some instances, I had to go to a certain hotel so that I can go to my commitments,” the Premier said during a media briefing on the Gauteng water crisis on Wednesday.
“We also go through the same inconveniences as any other person. There's no special water or a special pipe that is designed to service other people and not service other people. Our families, our relatives, ourselves, our constituencies, they suffer the same pain. We don't have water when communities don't have water. But what we need to do, we've got the responsibility to fix the problem. We are coming to you that the problem is almost fixed."
Later, Lesufi issued a statement apologising, saying his hotel reference may have been misinterpreted.
“The water challenges we are experiencing inconvenience everyone equally. No one is immune to the frustrations and disruptions cause by water shortages, and I regret any impression that suggested otherwise,” said Lesufi.
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Social media users were not impressed.
Commenting under the statement on X, Dashin Maphupha said: “You meant it. We know you don’t care about people.”
Another user commented:
“There is no need to apologize, Mr. Premier. You were simply being honest, and that reflects the reality in South Africa. The truth is that you guys are not experiencing the same challenges that ordinary citizens face every day.”
“You will lose Johannesburg. I can guarantee you that and it won’t be because the DA campaigned hard. You are literally handing them the city on a silver platter,” wrote another user.