A joint technical task team convened by the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has been deployed to support Mogale City in addressing the ongoing water supply challenges affecting Kagiso, through both immediate emergency interventions and the development of a permanent solution.
The intervention follows weeks of supply challenges and poor reservoir recovery in Kagiso. Since 12 August 2026, the municipality’s Water Services team has conducted a series of investigations and tests to better understand the factors affecting water supply to the area.
The task team brings together technical expertise from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Rand Water, Mogale City, the City of Ekurhuleni, Sydwalt and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to investigate the water supply system, establish the underlying causes of the persistent challenges and guide appropriate interventions.
The team convened on 31 August 2026 for technical engagements and a site assessment of the Kagiso water supply system. The assessment began at Rand Water’s facilities, where the technical team examined the bulk water supply system, its operating regime, and the volume and flow of water supplied into the Kagiso system.
Moving from assumptions to data
As an immediate intervention, the Joint Technical Team has agreed to install four data loggers at strategically selected points across the system, together with telemetry for level indicators. The equipment will provide real-time and reliable information on water flows, supply patterns, reservoir and tower levels and overall system performance. This will allow the technical team to establish how the system is behaving under actual operating conditions and identify where further investigation or intervention may be required. The installation of the four data loggers and telemetry is targeted for completion by 4 September 2026. Rand Water will undertake the necessary excavation work on its side of the system to provide access to the pipeline and facilitate the installation of the equipment. Mogale City’s technical team will provide the necessary support for the pipe connection works, while Sydwalt will undertake the telemetry installation with technical support and guidance from CSIR.
Multi-disciplinary technical support
The investigation brings together expertise from several institutions to ensure that the Kagiso water supply system is assessed from both a bulk supply and municipal distribution perspective. The City of Ekurhuleni’s technical team will join the Joint Technical Team to support further investigations and assist in establishing the facts regarding the operation and performance of the system. DWS will provide technical support and guidance during the investigations, including advice based on site observations and participation in identifying possible causes of the supply challenges. CSIR will provide technical guidance on the monitoring and telemetry systems, assist in identifying appropriate monitoring points, and support the analysis and interpretation of the data collected.
Building a long-term solution
The current interventions are emergency measures aimed at gaining a clearer understanding of the Kagiso water supply system while providing the technical information required to guide the next phase of the response. Once sufficient data has been collected, the Joint Technical Team will analyse the information to establish the underlying causes of the supply challenges and assess the performance of the various components of the system. The findings will inform medium-and long-term interventions aimed at improving the reliability, efficiency and sustainability of water supply to Kagiso. Rather than relying on assumptions, the municipality and its technical partners are working towards a solution based on verified data and actual system performance. The Joint Technical Team will continue monitoring the system, evaluating the results and developing recommendations for interventions that can provide a sustainable, long-term improvement to water supply in Kagiso.
Mogale City acknowledges the impact that ongoing water supply interruptions have on residents and businesses and remains committed to working with its technical partners to establish the cause of the challenges and implement appropriate measures to stabilise the system.