Water security in South Africa, especially in cities like Johannesburg, costs families far more than their monthly bill-factoring in rising rates during droughts, costly efficiency upgrades, and broader financial strain from shortages.
In Johannesburg, water security isn’t just a bill—it’s a growing financial burden driven by rates, leaks and water mafias.
Residents are also facing increased power outages, dilapidated roads and housing shortages.
Here is a financial breakdown of what it costs households to stay water-resilient, from drilling boreholes to buying tanks:
In Johannesburg, the cost of water varies widely depending on the area and access to infrastructure.
In informal settlements, residents may pay as much as R15 for a single 20- to 25-liter bucket—highlighting the disparity in water accessibility.
Conversely, the City of Johannesburg provides residents with a monthly allocation of 6 kiloliters (6,000 liters) of free water.
Beyond this threshold, a tiered tariff system applies, with rates escalating from R8.75 to R19.84 per kiloliter, depending on the volume consumed.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown by the city:
Free Water:
The City of Johannesburg provides 6 kiloliters of free water per month to each residential dwelling.
Here is how the city listed the tariffs:
Where a residential prepayment meter has been installed for the supply of water to a dwelling, block of flats and multi-dwellings where such service is provided in respect of land having a drainage installation on thereon which is connected to Johannesburg Water’s sewer:
– For the first 6 kilolitres: Free
– Over 6 kilolitres up to 10 kilolitres: R8.75 per kilolitre per month.
– Over 10 kilolitres up to 15 kilolitres: R11.08 per kilolitre per month.
– Over 15 kilolitres up to 20 kilolitres: R13.37 per kilolitre per month.
– Over 20 kilolitres up to 30 kilolitres: R19.84 per kilolitre per month.
– Over 30 kilolitres up to 40 kilolitres: R19.84 per kilolitre per month.
– Over 40 kilolitres up to 60 kilolitres: R19.84 per kilolitre per month.
– Over 60 kilolitres: R19.84 per kilolitre per month.
Tariffs increase based on consumption exceeding the free allowance.
Speaking to , Johanna Mafa, a resident in Diepsloot township, Johannesburg’s newest low-income settlement, said water shortages have become more common in the area.
Roaming water tankers are also more visible than water running through dry taps.
“We don’t know what is happening but water for is just pure luxury. It’s like Christmas to us because we just don’t have water. We line up to fill up our buckets and sometimes we wait for too long,” she said.
Anna Moraba, a resident of Diepsloot, also shared the same sentiment about water being scarce.
Moraba said they sometimes buy water because of the long queues and that sometimes the trucks do not show up.
“Due to this, we buy water from other sources. They (municipality) do not leave us without any other option but to do so. Even though it’s at our expense,” she said.
However, Johannesburg Mayor, Dada Morero, promised to make sure that the municipal water supply system was functioning.
He also promised President Cyril Ramaphosa that he would turn around the city’s dire state.
In his state of the city address (SOCA), Morero announced that he would introduce a “bomb squad” that will be led by veteran Snuki Zikalala to tackle the city’s challenges.
Meanwhile, the water crisis is still a national problem in the country and the Water and Sanitation Ministry has promised to take measures against the shortages.
Politics
