Johannesburg – The Democratic Alliance (DA) says the high court ruling setting aside Johannesburg Water’s tanker tender and the declaration that it was invalid prompted the party to refer the matter to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
In a statement on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, the DA said it welcomed the court ruling, adding: “This multi-million rand tanker contract was concluded despite clear procedural irregularities”.
The statement further stated: “We will now formally approach the SIU to investigate potential violations of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA) by officials involved in the award of this tender.
“While Johannesburg Water has filed an appeal, meaning the contract will continue for now, the judgment confirms serious concerns about how this tender was awarded.”
The DA said that at a time when residents were battling ongoing water outages, public funds must be managed lawfully, transparently, and in the best interest of Johannesburg’s residents.
“Earlier this month, nine people were arrested in the Eastern Cape over their involvement in a R75 million water tanker tender,” said the DA.
“This makes us hopeful, as action is being taken against criminal elements benefitting from water crises.”
The DA said it previously wrote to the National Treasury, the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and the Auditor-General of South Africa, requesting an urgent investigation into this specific tender process.
“Johannesburg residents deserve clean governance and accountability,” the DA said.
“The DA will not allow a water crisis to be exploited through irregular contracting.”
Meanwhile, a pipe burst in Cullinan, approximately 30 km east of Pretoria, is likely to affect parts of the capital city.
Magalies Water has informed residents of Cullinan, Refilwe, Rayton, and surrounding areas within the City of Tshwane receiving water supply from the Cullinan Water Supply Scheme of an envisaged water supply interruption due to an identified water leak within the bulk water pipeline network.
Amid growing criticism about disruptions to the water supply levelled at Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, he revealed that water supply to some areas of Johannesburg had been restored.
Premier Lesufi made his assertion during his State Of the Province Address on Monday, 23 February 2026.
Premier Lesufi also revealed: “To permanently resolve these issues, a R760 million massive infrastructure investment upgrade is underway in the City of Johannesburg over a phased approach”.
He said the phased approach includes:
• Construction of a new ground reservoir and a tower in Brixton is underway and will go live by this Saturday to improve the supply.
• In response to this crisis, we built an emergency boosting pumping station, which will go live next week, to ensure that these areas are covered with water.
• The permanent solution will be realised once the construction of the 5km pipeline is concluded at the end of the year.
Unimpressed, the GOOD party said it noted Premier Lesufi’s 2026 State of the Province Address and his claims that water supply has been restored in several affected areas.
“Before making such declarations, the Premier should check the taps because in many communities across Gauteng, they are still dry.”
