Agreement Mkhari 
By Joyce Dube
Soshanguve has been experiencing a severe water crisis since the second week of May. Rand Water notified the City of Tshwane about planned maintenance at its Hartbees Hoek Reservoir, scheduled to start on 9 May and continue until 23 May 2025. This reservoir supplies water to most parts of Soshanguve, and during the 14-day period, Rand Water will be conducting intensive cleaning and maintenance.
The impact has been widespread, affecting students, community members, and business owners. Daily activities like doing laundry, using toilets, and bathing have become a struggle, especially since it’s a school and work period.
“I feel so bad because this situation is draining our parents, kids, and even ourselves. We need water to sustain our lives. Fourteen days is a long time, and not all of us have enough resources to store water for such a long period. We hope a long-term solution can be found because even businesses are struggling—they can’t operate without water,” said Mathapelo Mokwena, a local resident.
Students are among those hit hardest. Many are unable to attend classes regularly because they can’t bathe or wash their uniforms. “We are surviving with water from the tanks, and some of it looks dirty. We don’t know when the tanks were last cleaned, so there are health risks too. We’re even struggling to flush toilets,” said Ayanda Khoza, a student. “We’re pleading for help from higher authorities because we can’t survive without water.”
Rand Water indicated that an alternative supply system, known as the bypass method, will be used to feed reservoirs and direct supply zones downstream of Hartbees Hoek. However, the water pressure will be significantly lower during morning and afternoon peak hours, especially in Block L—identified as the most sensitive zone.
The limited supply has led to further complications. Street vendors are losing business due to the water shortage, and some are forced to fetch water from neighboring communities. The water tanks provided are not enough to sustain the entire population, and frustration continues to grow as the crisis stretches on.
Students and residents alike are calling on government and municipal leaders to take urgent action and ensure more sustainable water solutions for Soshanguve.
