Joburg Moves Towards Owning Its Own Water Tanker Fleet As Morero Reduces Reliance On Contractors

Johannesburg is gradually moving towards operating its own fleet of water tankers as the city intensifies efforts to strengthen its water distribution capacity and reduce its reliance on private contractors.

Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero says the municipality has already taken significant steps towards building an in-house fleet, with 20 water tankers procured in 2025 now fully operational.

Morero also revealed that a further 16 tankers are being rolled out in phases as part of the city’s broader strategy to improve water delivery services to communities affected by supply disruptions.

The move comes amid ongoing water challenges across Johannesburg, where several communities have experienced prolonged outages, low reservoir levels and inconsistent water supply.

Water tankers have become an important temporary intervention for residents who are unable to access water through their household taps. However, the city’s dependence on contracted service providers has raised questions about the sustainability, cost and efficiency of its water distribution arrangements.

According to Morero, building the municipality’s own fleet will gradually give the city greater control over water delivery operations while reducing its dependence on external contractors.

The procurement of the 20 tankers last year represents an important step in that direction, while the additional 16 vehicles are expected to strengthen the city’s capacity as they become operational.

The phased rollout will allow the municipality to expand its operations and improve its ability to respond to communities experiencing water shortages.

The initiative is also expected to improve the coordination of emergency water distribution, particularly in areas where infrastructure challenges and pressure on the water network continue to affect residents.

Johannesburg has been under growing pressure to address its water crisis, with residents frequently raising concerns about prolonged interruptions and the difficulties of accessing alternative water supplies.

The city has previously highlighted infrastructure upgrades, reservoir management and water conservation measures as part of its efforts to stabilise the supply network.

While water tankers cannot replace the need for reliable and properly maintained water infrastructure, they remain an essential emergency measure when communities experience disruptions.

Morero’s announcement signals the municipality’s intention to strengthen its operational capacity rather than depend heavily on private companies whenever water distribution challenges arise.

The success of the strategy will ultimately depend on how effectively the city manages its fleet, maintains the vehicles and ensures that tankers reach communities where they are most urgently needed.

For residents affected by ongoing water shortages, the expansion of the municipal fleet could provide additional support while Johannesburg works towards achieving more reliable water supply services.