Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has lauded the City of Tshwane for its efforts in getting rid of the notorious water tanker tendering system.
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has commended the City of Tshwane for spearheading the end of water tanker mafias, following its' decision to insource of all water tanker services.
This week, City Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, abruptly suspended water tanker services to formal areas, citing a funding crisis, while launching a shift to internalise operations in a bid to regain control over a system that has gained notoriety amid allegations of widespread corruption.
IOL reported that from April 1, residents in formalised areas will no longer receive water tankers during outages, infrastructure failures or water quality crises, with the city having confirmed that the suspension will last for the remainder of the financial year after operational funds were exhausted and requests for additional budget were not approved.
Reports have indicated that the City of Tshwane has faced significant criticism for its staggering expenditure of R777 million on water tankers in the financial year ending June 2025, with a dramatic increase from R140 million the previous year.
On Wednesday, Lesufi unveiled a new-look Gauteng cabinet, which he said was facilitated and approved by national ANC structures, following talks with the EFF and the MK Party on ways to strengthen the Government on Provincial Unity (GPU).
Reacting to the question of whether the provincial government is considering expanding this approach to the rest of the municipalities across Gauteng, Lesufi said that efforts are being made to eliminate the tendering system, especially in water services.
"We are on a strong mission to de-tenderise state services. I want to thank the municipality of Tshwane for having taken the first step. There are also others. I know that Ekurhuleni is also following that path. I believe that the state must have the capacity to deal with the issues of water tankers," he stated.
On the water challenges that have plagued parts of the province, Lesufi said that efforts are being made to restore water services to affected areas.
"To respond to the water disruptions that peaked about six weeks ago, the provincial government took coordinated steps to address this problem, including rolling out an Operations Centre, led by MEC Jacob Mamabolo, to coordinate with national entities and municipalities. Some of the short-term measures included pressure management, leak repairs, and management of water tankers," he stated.
Lesufi also commended the efforts of municipalities such as the City of Ekurhuleni and Midvaal Local Municipality, which have been recognised for their innovative water conservation strategies at the recent 2026 Department of Water and Sanitation Awards.
"We congratulate the City of Ekurhuleni for achieving a clean sweep at the awards, securing six Gold-level Green Drop certifications for treatment plants while also claiming 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places for the top-performing wastewater systems nationally,' the Premier noted.
Midvaal Local Municipality also garnered accolades for excellence in wastewater management and infrastructure upgrades.