On Monday, Joburg water funds took centre stage as Mayor Dada Morero rejected claims that R4 billion “went missing”. He said the money sits in the City’s general service budget and that officials did not divert it. After talks with Treasury, he said the City will ringfence part of rates and taxes for water work.
R13bn Write-Off Alarms Oversight Groups
Meanwhile, Johannesburg disclosed a write-off of more than R13 billion in unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful spending by end-June. This cut the opening balance of about R23.6 billion. However, it’s essential that oversight focuses on Joburg funds for water to prevent such waste.
During briefings, committees heard that municipal oversight bodies have already approved R5.5 billion. In addition, officials are considering a further R400.6 million, which would leave about R10.8 billion still on the books. Civil groups warned that weak records and poor discipline allow repeat breaches.
Ringfencing, Enforcement and Tankers
Looking ahead, Morero will ringfence Joburg water funds to keep projects moving. Moreover, he will target illegal connections with JMPD support. He also plans to add 20 municipal tankers to curb reliance on contractors. Finally, he will table a master plan with pipe replacement.
Why This Matters to Residents
For residents, the stakes are clear. Recently, protests in Coronationville and Westbury followed long water cuts. Consequently, the mayor promised faster fixes and tighter controls. Even so, communities want proof on the ground: paid contractors, working reservoirs, and steady supply before trust returns. The proper use of funds allocated for Joburg water is key to this.
