Strengthening partnerships between the City of Johannesburg and the business community is critical to addressing the city's water supply challenges residents of Lenasia and the broad city of Johannesburg have been facing.
This was the central message of an important engagement session held on Monday, 9 December 2024, at Johannesburg Water’s Head Office in Newtown. The meeting brought together city officials, water management experts, and stakeholders from the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) to discuss the ongoing water challenges and explore sustainable solutions for water demand management and conservation.
The session was part of a broader initiative by the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) and Johannesburg Water to forge stronger collaborations with the private sector in finding solutions to the city’s water issues. Johannesburg Water is working closely with the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) office within CoJ to identify viable projects that could lead to public-private partnerships aimed at improving water supply and infrastructure.
Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Councillor Dada Morero, highlighted the value of engaging with the business sector, noting that industries such as civil engineering and town planning offer essential expertise that can contribute to solving water supply challenges. The event served as a platform to explore long-term strategic solutions and collective efforts to safeguard the city's water resources and ensure a sustainable future for water and sanitation services in Johannesburg.
Johannesburg Water is actively pursuing a strategic partnership with a development institution to secure infrastructure funding, highlighting the importance of collaboration between the City and the business sector to ensure a resilient and sustainable water supply.
Mr. Ntshavheni Mukwevho, Managing Director of Johannesburg Water, stressed that water is vital to both the economy and quality of life, and that innovative strategies are necessary to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility.
He further emphasized the City’s role in addressing infrastructure challenges, which will contribute to economic growth. Measures such as reducing non-revenue water losses and utilizing modern leak detection technology are part of Johannesburg Water’s Water Conservation and Demand Management Strategy.
This strategy aims to reduce water demand by 37,123 megalitres annually through technical interventions, with further reductions anticipated from conservation initiatives.
Mukwevho underscored the importance of business partnerships in solving water challenges, stating that through collaboration, the City and businesses can address water issues more effectively and share in the rewards. Johannesburg Water is engaging transparently with business, residents, and stakeholders to collectively tackle the complex water challenges facing the city.
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