Democratic Alliance (DA) chief in Gauteng, Solly Msimanga, says it’s time for Premier Panyaza Lesufi and his government to step up and clear up the province’s water crisis. 

The social gathering has accused the provincial authorities of failing to prioritise making a provincial infrastructure grasp plan. 

DA BLAMES GAUTENG GOVERNMENT FOR THE ONGOING WATER CRISIS 

Msimanga stated a provincial infrastructure grasp plan permits the province and all its municipalities to adequately handle sources and infrastructure and to plan using their budgets. 

“The DA knows that Gauteng has enough water, but the problem is that the infrastructure is failing,” Msimanga stated. 

Msimanga stated Johannesburg’s water pipe infrastructure is 12,300 km, and within the final monetary yr, just below 30 km of pipes have been repaired, up to date, and changed.

“Without a provincial infrastructure master plan, the Gauteng water crisis will be disastrous because municipalities cannot handle it independently. The Provincial Government must take responsibility for their role,” Msimanga emphasised. 

LESUFI CHALLENGED TO A PUBLIC DEBATE 

Recently, Lesufi took to X (previously Twitter) to say the water disaster isn’t a part of his constituency. 

Msimanga, it’s worrying to listen to Lesufi argue that water isn’t a provincial competency. 

“He may not be instantly chargeable for water provision, however he’s chargeable for creating the setting whereby water might be reticulated. However, we refuse to just accept this vacuum in management.

“I challenge Panyaza Lesufi to a public debate. We need to engage in a conversation around the Gauteng water crisis and come up with a transparent solution. I invite you [Lesufi] to a debate, and I invite you to bring your solutions to the table. Throwing your hands in the air and saying that it isn’t in your ambit is the real problem here,” he added.

DO YOU THINK PANYAZA LESUFI WILL ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE?

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