DA challenges Lesufi to public debate over Gauteng water crisis

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader in Gauteng, Solly Msimanga, says it is time for Premier Panyaza Lesufi and his executive to step up and solve the province’s water crisis. 

The party has accused the Gauteng government of failing to prioritise creating a provincial infrastructure master plan. 

DA BLAMES GAUTENG GOVERNMENT FOR THE ONGOING WATER CRISIS 

Several suburbs, especially in Johannesburg have had little to no water for quite some time. Bulk potable supplier Rand Water which supplies all the metro municipalities in Gauteng has also warned that its infrastructure is on the verge of collapse due to increased consumption and infrastructure issues.

In a bid to prevent water shortage, in September, Rand Water imposed level 1 restriction in Gauteng due to increased demand.

Regarding the ongoing crisis, Msimanga said a provincial infrastructure master plan enables Gauteng and all its municipalities to adequately manage resources and infrastructure and to plan the use of their budgets. 

“The DA knows that Gauteng has enough water, but the problem is that the infrastructure is failing,” Msimanga said. 

Msimanga said Johannesburg’s water pipe infrastructure is 12,300 km, and in the last financial year, just under 30 km of pipes were repaired, updated, and replaced.

“Without a provincial infrastructure master plan, the Gauteng water crisis will be disastrous because municipalities cannot handle it independently. The Provincial Government must take responsibility for their role,” Msimanga emphasised. 

LESUFI CHALLENGED TO A PUBLIC DEBATE 

Recently, Lesufi took to X (formerly Twitter) to say the water crisis is not part of his constituency. 

Msimanga, it is worrying to hear Lesufi argue that water is not a Gauteng competency. 

“He might not be directly responsible for water provision, but he is responsible for creating the environment wherein water can be reticulated. However, we refuse to accept this vacuum in leadership.

“I challenge Panyaza Lesufi to a public debate. We need to engage in a conversation around the Gauteng water crisis and come up with a transparent solution. I invite you [Lesufi] to a debate, and I invite you to bring your solutions to the table. Throwing your hands in the air and saying that it isn’t in your ambit is the real problem here,” he added.

DO YOU THINK PANYAZA LESUFI WILL ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE?

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