There seems to be no plans in place to address the water crisis faced by Gauteng metros, this was confirmed by the Department of Water and Sanitation. The department said there is no solution as yet to curb the persistent water outages in Joburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni. 

The department spokesperson Kamogelo Mogotsi said despite the recent storm wreaking havoc and damaging the Zuikerbosch water treatment plant that has since been restored, the three Gauteng metros had already been experiencing water supply challenges. "There was consensus that the municipalities required support, and, to that end, Minister Mchunu directed that Rand Water and the Department of Water and Sanitation meet within the coming week with technical officials from all the municipalities to devise a plan which would then be presented to the two Ministries," said Mogotsi. Mogotsi said it was further agreed that upon receipt of the plan, the public would be briefed.

Deputy director-general of water and sanitation services management Risimati Mathye said the growing population in the province contributes to the pressure in the water supply chain. "Rapid population growth in Gauteng, coupled with increasing water losses in municipal water distribution systems in Gauteng, have resulted in a situation where the peak demand for water from Rand Water's municipal customers is close to, and occasionally exceeds, the available supply," Mathye said.