South Africa: Further water restrictions, water outages likely in Gauteng Province through late December /update 3

Further water provision disruptions are likely in Gauteng Province through late December amid an ongoing drought. Rand Water, the local utility, has announced that its systems are recovering following planned infrastructure maintenance in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni (East Rand) that resulted in supply interruptions Dec. 13-16. Authorities in Johannesburg are also maintaining water restrictions, including decreased water pressure occurring overnight from 21:00-04:00, and level 1 water usage restrictions, including the prohibition of garden watering, car washing, and the filling of swimming pools between 06:00-18:00.

Localized protests, including road blockages, have been reported in some suburbs of Johannesburg, including Claremont, Coronationville, Emmarentia, Lenasia, Melville, Protea Glen, Westbury, and Westdene.

Further disruptions are likely in the coming days and could also affect nearby Pretoria (Tshwane) in the coming weeks. Disruptions could include reduced flow rate or shortages. Outages could extend beyond the estimated restoration time. Business disruptions are possible, especially for companies that rely on large quantities of municipal water. Essential services, including hospitals and health facilities, could experience disruptions due to water cuts despite contingency plans. Spontaneous protests are possible in areas affected by water shortages, especially in lower-income areas or near government buildings, such as the Johannesburg Council Chambers. In the event of protests, increased security and road travel disruptions stemming from blockades are likely. Violence, while unlikely, remains possible.