14 July 2026 | Johannesburg

The South African Entrepreneurs Movement (SAEM) strongly condemns the continued unannounced water disruptions affecting communities across Johannesburg and other parts of South Africa. Basic services are a constitutional expectation, and residents and businesses deserve reliable communication and swift responses when infrastructure failures occur.

While SAEM welcomes the restoration of water supply to Waterfall and surrounding areas, it remains unacceptable that communities should endure several days without water because of a burst pipe.

A burst water pipe is a technical challenge that should be resolved efficiently through proper planning, adequate resources, modern technology and accountable project management. Entrepreneurs across South Africa possess the engineering expertise, project management skills, innovative technology and operational efficiency required to respond rapidly to such emergencies. It should not take four days to repair a single burst pipe while families, schools, hospitals and businesses suffer.

SAEM believes South Africa must increasingly leverage the skills of entrepreneurs and the private sector to complement public service delivery through transparent partnerships that prioritise speed, accountability and value for money.

During the recent water interruptions, SAEM volunteers demonstrated what is possible through innovation and community action. By using technology, efficient logistics and volunteer coordination, they ensured that SAEM members, their businesses and many of their clients had temporary access to water during the disruption. This community-driven response reflects the spirit of entrepreneurship—solving problems quickly when people need help most.

SAEM extends its appreciation to every volunteer who dedicated their time, vehicles and resources to support affected communities.

SAEM Calls For:

* Immediate and transparent communication whenever planned or emergency water interruptions occur.
* Faster emergency response times to critical water infrastructure failures.
* Greater use of technology and real-time monitoring to detect and repair water leaks.
* Public-private partnerships that utilise entrepreneurial expertise to strengthen municipal service delivery.
* Long-term investment in water infrastructure to reduce recurring outages.

South Africa has thousands of entrepreneurs with the skills, equipment and experience to help modernise municipal infrastructure. Government should embrace these capabilities to improve service delivery and build resilient communities.

“Entrepreneurs don’t just create businesses—they solve problems. South Africa’s infrastructure challenges require innovative thinking, efficient execution and accountability. Together, we can build municipalities that work for everyone.”

Issued by:
South African Entrepreneurs Movement (SAEM)
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