Parts of Ekurhuleni are expected to face a complete water outage for 107 hours next week due to critical infrastructure maintenance by Rand Water.
Ekurhuleni to be struck by four-day water blackouts
The blackout begins at 03:00 on Thursday, 29 May 2025, and is scheduled to end at 17:00 on Monday, 2 June 2025.
Rand Water is undertaking work to connect a newly built pipeline—called the B16 pipeline—from Station 5A at the Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Plant to the Mapleton Booster Pumping Station.
This major engineering operation will entirely shut down the pumping capacity at Mapleton, one of the key systems supplying Ekurhuleni.
Areas that will be out of water from Friday, 29 May 2025
During this time, many areas supplied through the Mapleton System, which services large parts of Ekurhuleni, will experience a complete halt in water pumping.
The City of Ekurhuleni has been officially notified of the upcoming outage and is expected to inform affected residents.
Other areas and municipalities that may also be impacted by reduced water supply include:
- Johannesburg;
- Tshwane;
- Madibeng;
- Rustenburg;
- Royal Bafokeng;
- Rand West; and
- Merafong.
However, Ekurhuleni will face the longest continuous disruption due to the location of the maintenance.
What’s the cause of the water blackout in Ekurhuleni?
The maintenance work involves connecting a major new water pipeline aimed at increasing supply volumes from August 2025.
Rand Water is also using this opportunity to clean and inspect other water infrastructure, including electrical maintenance by the City of Ekurhuleni.
The maintenance is being carried out in the cooler months—May to July—when water usage is typically lower.
This planning aims to reduce the impact on residents, although disruptions are expected to be severe in the areas directly affected.
How to prepare for four days without water
Residents are advised to start preparing early by storing enough water for daily needs, including drinking, cooking, sanitation, and basic hygiene.
Rand Water and Ekurhuleni municipal authorities recommend filling up containers, using water wisely, and keeping emergency supplies ready.
For more information or updates, residents can monitor Rand Water’s social media channels or contact local municipal hotlines.
“This project is part of long-term efforts to improve system reliability. We understand the inconvenience but urge residents to be patient as we carry out necessary upgrades,” Rand Water spokesperson Makenosi Maroo stated.
