Johannesburg Water employees strike over bonus disputes amid water supply crisis
In the middle of the water crisis, on Friday, February 6, 2026, unhappy members of the SA Municipal Workers' Union descended on Johannesburg Water's head office at the Turbine Hall in Newtown to demand an explanation over the utility's failure to fully pay performance bonuses in December.
Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers
Johannesburg Water has been hit by an unprotected strike by members of Cosatu-affiliate, the SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu), over performance bonuses not fully paid in December, as the city’s water crisis deepens.
According to Samwu, the utility deducted 5% from employees who received 95% and above following their performance reviews, and as a result, they were paid less bonuses than they expected on December 29.
Due to the strike action, Joburg Water promised to use approved contractors, where necessary, to minimise service delivery disruptions and ensure the continued operation of essential services.
“As a precautionary measure, and in line with standard risk management and business continuity protocols, Johannesburg Water has implemented contingency arrangements,” the utility said.
Police on high alert as disgruntled Johannesburg Water employees blocked roads near the entity's head office on Ntemi Piliso Street in Newtown last Friday to protest over performance bonuses that they say were not fully paid in December.
Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers
Samwu Johannesburg Regional Chairperson Lebogang Ndawo said engagements with Joburg Water yielded no results, but the utility conceded that it never consulted employees or labour on the matter before the deductions were made.
“This is despite the fact that already employees had consultations with their line managers in terms of the review of their performances, then they were shown their scores, which subsequently showed how much money they would get,” he added.
Ndawo said Joburg Water management informed unions that it was a unilateral decision taken by the utility’s board and instructed the executive management to either do the moderation and that if they did not, then the bonuses would not be paid at all.
Joburg Water on Tuesday confirmed that a strike involving Samwu started on Friday, following an approved general meeting.
The utility said the unprotected strike has not followed the legally required procedures and is, therefore, deemed unprotected in terms of applicable labour legislation, and the union is aware of this and warned that continued participation is on a no-work-no-pay basis.
“Johannesburg Water is engaging the matter through established and appropriate labour relations channels to address the issues raised in a structured, lawful, and responsible manner.
“It is regrettable that this action is taking place at a time when the city is experiencing a significant water supply crisis, placing additional strain on critical service delivery and operational stability,” the entity stated.
The unprotected strike also comes as Rand Water expressed concern with persistently high water consumption in Gauteng, especially in Johannesburg and Tshwane, and will reduce supply.
“Rand Water remains concerned with persistently high water consumption in Gauteng, particularly the City of Johannesburg and Tshwane.
“Rand Water, after engaging with high water-consuming municipalities, will be reducing water supply to these areas to restore water supply in affected areas to stabilise the entire bulk water supply system,” the bulk water utility said, adding that high consumption has negatively affected water supply in parts of its supply area.
The entity also stated that this above-normal consumption that has exceeded the allocated volumes continues to place significant strain on the overall water supply network, and that current demand is forcing the system to operate under pressure, stretching infrastructure capacity to accommodate abnormally high usage levels.