Frustration boiled over in parts of Johannesburg on Wednesday as residents without water protested in the streets, accusing authorities of failing to protect a basic human right while the city’s water utility battles system strain and an unprotected strike by some of its own employees.

In suburbs supplied by the Commando System, including Crosby, Brixton, Hursthill and parts of Melville, taps have run dry or delivered only a trickle in recent days. Residents say the situation has disrupted schools, businesses and healthcare services, with some learners sent home early due to sanitation concerns and workers reporting for duty without access to basic hygiene.

The crisis has unfolded against the backdrop of growing public anxiety over talk of “Day Zero” — a term associated with total system collapse. But on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, Johannesburg Water moved to quell fears, insisting the city’s system remains under pressure but stable.

“Johannesburg is not at Day Zero,” the utility said in a statement. “Day Zero refers to a complete system failure where water can no longer be supplied. Johannesburg continues to receive and distribute water across the city. However, the system remains under significant pressure due to high demand, infrastructure constraints, and ongoing supply challenges.”

Despite the assurances, lived experiences on the ground tell a story of mounting hardship.

Outside a shopping centre in Melville, residents gathered with placards reading “Water is a Human Right” and “Fix Our Taps Now”. Community leader Lucky Malinga condemned the timing of the strike by some Johannesburg Water employees, confirmed by the entity as unprotected.

“It is unbearable that these workers have the audacity to strike while we do not have water. Water is a human right, we demand water now,” Malinga said.

Johannesburg Water has not detailed the full operational impact of the strike, but any disruption to maintenance and repair teams threatens to slow ongoing interventions aimed at stabilising supply.

According to the utility’s latest system status update, several reservoirs within the Commando network remain low but are still supplying water, albeit at reduced pressure. Crosby Reservoir is described as low but supplying, with poor pressure to no water expected in some zones. Brixton 1 and 2 reservoirs and towers are also operating at low levels, while Hursthill reservoirs are on bypass — a measure that may result in poor pressure or intermittent supply in affected areas.

Officials have stressed that these are controlled, localised management measures designed to protect the broader network — not signs of total collapse.

To intensify coordination, an Intergovernmental Water War Room has been established, bringing together the City of Johannesburg, Rand Water, the Gauteng Provincial Government and national stakeholders. The structure is tasked with real-time monitoring, accelerating repairs and driving demand-management interventions.

The city remains one of the largest consumers of bulk water supplied by Rand Water and must reduce daily usage to 1 550 megalitres per day to comply with licence apportionment requirements. While authorities say consumption has declined due to multiple projects, they concede more must be done to meet the target.

Immediate measures include night-time throttling to reduce system losses, bulk meter restrictions in high-consumption zones, intensified pressure management and the deployment of advanced leak detection technology. Rapid response teams are addressing identified leaks, while ward committees are being engaged to flag problem areas more quickly.

In Region B, planned maintenance linked to structural repairs of a leaking reservoir continues to affect Melville, Emmarentia, Richmond, Greenside, Westdene, Westcliff, Auckland Park and Parktown West. Supply is being provided via bypass during the repair period, which is expected to continue until April 2026.

In Region E, an unplanned burst pipe on 1st Road in Linbro Park has led to isolated supply in the immediate area, with some residents experiencing low pressure to no water. No estimated restoration time has yet been provided.

“We understand the frustration and hardship residents are experiencing, and we want to assure the people of Johannesburg that stabilising the water system is our highest priority,” said Executive Mayor Dada Morero. “We are working around the clock with Rand Water, provincial and national partners to protect supply, accelerate repairs and ensure that every community has reliable and sustainable access to water.”

Beyond the technical explanations, the broader impact is increasingly evident. Public health risks rise when households cannot maintain proper sanitation. In densely populated areas, limited access to clean water heightens the danger of communicable diseases. Informal settlements are particularly vulnerable, relying heavily on communal taps and water tankers.

Businesses, especially in the hospitality and food sectors, report operational strain. Some have reduced trading hours, while others are absorbing additional costs to secure alternative water sources.

The City attributes the ongoing strain to ageing infrastructure, illegal connections, high demand and years of underinvestment. Through its Water Conservation and Water Demand Management Strategy, Johannesburg Water says it is accelerating reservoir repairs, pipeline replacement, smart metering and stricter enforcement of by-laws to reduce non-revenue water.

Major upgrades in Brixton, Crosby and Hursthill — including new reservoirs and pump stations — are underway and expected to improve long-term resilience.

For now, however, residents are being urged to reduce consumption, report leaks, and comply strictly with restrictions.

“Panic and misinformation do not help,” Johannesburg Water said. “Responsible water use does.”

As the city moves to balance reassurance with urgent intervention, one reality remains unchanged for many households on Wednesday: until water flows consistently from their taps, confidence in the system will remain as fragile as the reservoirs that supply it.