By JOHANNESBURG — In a decisive move to tackle persistent water scarcity and crumbling municipal infrastructure, the Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) is set to roll out a cutting-edge, technology-driven water management system.
The initiative, designed to curb staggering water losses and secure reliable household supplies, will be officially unveiled in the Mogale City Local Municipality.
As water security remains one of the most pressing socio-economic challenges facing South Africa’s urban centres, the provincial government is turning to data-driven innovation. CoGTA has partnered with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to deploy advanced telemetry technology capable of real-time monitoring and leak detection across municipal reservoirs.
A Tech-Driven Shield Against Infrastructure Decay
For years, municipalities have struggled with Non-Revenue Water (NRW)—water that is produced and lost before it reaches consumers due to aging infrastructure, bursts, and unmonitored leaks. Under the new pilot project, the CSIR’s telemetry system will bridge this gap, granting authorities immediate visibility into network pressures and reservoir levels.
Mogale City was strategically chosen as the testing ground for this high-tech intervention, with implementation already underway in the Kagiso and Kenmare water systems. By combining advanced diagnostics with sophisticated data analytics, the pilot aims to swiftly identify system inefficiencies, drastically reduce response times to major bursts, and simultaneously test water quality to safeguard public health.
A Crucial Test for Provincial CoGTA
The launch comes under the stewardship of Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo. With service delivery protests frequently sparked by erratic water supply, the success of the Mogale City pilot could serve as a vital blueprint for other municipalities across the province buckling under similar infrastructural strain.
The official launch event is scheduled for Friday, 30 October 2026, at 09:00 AM at the Mogale City Local Municipality offices in Krugersdorp. Stakeholders, industry experts, and residents will be watching closely to see if this technological intervention can finally turn the tide on Gauteng’s water crisis.
