Lesufi and his MECs briefed the media on Wednesday on the progress made during the first 100 days of their tenure.

The government has already set up a task team to help the various municipalities struggling with irregular water supply.

Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal are the two most affected provinces.

Rand Water will be deployed in Gauteng, while the Umngeni-Uthukela Water Board will help struggling municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal.

Various problems in several municipalities in both provinces have led communities to experience water shortages in recent weeks.

Lesufi said the problem has been exacerbated by illegal water connections.

“Our problems are three areas, one which is difficult to deal with because of the zama zamas, there are also all forms of illegal connections where people connect to the water illegally,” he explained.

“The Gauteng Provincial Government has worked with all stakeholders and all spheres of government to address the water challenges facing the province.

“Gauteng does not suffer from water shortage, but among the biggest challenges are illegal connections and water leaks.

“We are forming a team of law enforcement agencies who will help us disconnect all illegal water connections in the province,” the premier added.

Lesufi confirmed that the province’s eleven municipalities have agreed to apply Level 1 water restrictions, which will reduce non-essential water consumption, including filling swimming pools, washing cars with hoses and watering gardens during peak hours.

“Our water consumption must reflect the fact that we are currently facing a crisis, and that is why we are calling on all our residents to use water sparingly,” he said.

“In partnership with municipalities, we launched a water data hub, also known as a water dashboard.

“The dashboard will help residents track repair shortages and issues in their area and understand how bad things are.

“We developed the water dashboard to provide residents with meaningful, reliable and up-to-date information, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding their water use,” Lesufi added.

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