This is a series of articles on the supply of water to Johannesburg, particularly the long-term viability of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
Joburg mom’s R2.6-million water bill reversed after Public Protector steps in
JoburgCAN warns of a much deeper billing crisis in the metro
By Seth Thorne
News | 3 September 2026
Time to pay up: a look at municipal debt
More than R161-billion owed for electricity, water and taxes
Chart by The Outlier. Text by GroundUp Staff.
Charts | 17 July 2026
Water tankers everywhere in Joburg, yet surprisingly hard to find
Johannesburg deploys dozens of tankers daily during outages. We tried to find them
By Seth Thorne
News | 26 June 2026
Joburg watches R10-billion flow down the drain
Auditor-General publishes scathing report on City’s water management
By Seth Thorne
Brief | 24 June 2026
Water is so close, yet so far for this Joburg neighbourhood
Thembelihle residents struggle daily to get water, but they watch dozens of water tankers fill up and then drive past
Text by Seth Thorne. Photos by Ihsaan Haffejee.
News | 23 June 2026
Johannesburg won’t say who its water tanker suppliers are
Proliferation of water tankers across SA “is a brazen form of corruption” that has turned a temporary measure into an exploitative business, says HRC commissioner
By Seth Thorne
News | 8 June 2026
Meet the neighbourhood watch patrolling a river to stop pollution
The Roodekrans Neighbourhood Watch believes water needs to be protected as much as people and property
By Seth Thorne
News | 28 May 2026
Gauteng water crisis in the spotlight at SAHRC inquiry
Auditor-General and civil society organisations made submissions on Tuesday
By Seth Thorne
News | 20 May 2026
Joburg mom faces bankruptcy over R2.9-million water bill
Experts say a leak this size on her property is unlikely, while the City insists on 50% payment before engaging in dispute resolution
By Seth Thorne
News | 29 April 2026