Govan Mbeki water outages today (10 November 2026): affected areas, causes and when water returns
Bethal, eMzinoni, Secunda, Trichardt, Evander and Leandra are still battling dry taps after about three weeks. There is no official restoration date, and the municipality and Rand Water differ on the cause.
Taps are still dry in large parts of Govan Mbeki Municipality in Mpumalanga, with residents saying they have been without water for about three weeks. Bethal, eMzinoni, Secunda, Trichardt, Evander, Leandra and other high-lying areas are affected, and some reservoirs are critically low or empty (eNCA, 10 November; eNCA, 9 November).
No official restoration time has been given. The municipality says it has sent out extra water tankers and is working with Rand Water to stabilise supply (Ridge Times).
Which areas have no water?
| Area | What's been reported |
|---|---|
| Bethal and eMzinoni | Named by the municipality as among the worst affected; some households say tankers have not reached them (Ridge Times) |
| Secunda | Dry taps reported, part of the wider outage (eNCA) |
| Trichardt | Dry taps reported (eNCA) |
| Evander | Affected, according to eNCA (eNCA) |
| Leandra | Dry taps reported (eNCA) |
| Other high-lying areas | Affected, according to eNCA (eNCA) |
Residents say their water never came back after Rand Water maintenance, and some reservoirs are showing signs of recovery while others remain critically low (eNCA).
Why is there no water in Govan Mbeki?
Officials don't fully agree. Municipal Manager Elliot Maseko says Rand Water told the municipality it had low suction at its supply points, which he links to a heatwave and higher demand elsewhere (eNCA). An earlier municipal notice said Rand Water had stopped pumping from Bloemendal to Wildebeest because of low suction pressure (Ridge Times).
Rand Water spokesperson Makenosi Maroo says the interruptions can't automatically be blamed on its bulk supply, pointing to high consumption, power interruptions and the time reservoirs take to recover after heavy demand (eNCA).
The municipality owes Rand Water more than R800 million, but says that debt is not behind the latest disruptions (eNCA).
When will water come back?
Neither the municipality nor Rand Water has given a restoration date. The municipality has asked residents to use water sparingly to help the system stabilise (Ridge Times).
AfriForum has lodged a complaint with the Public Protector over the crisis (eNCA).
How do I get water from a tanker?
The municipality says regional managers work with ward councillors to decide where tankers go, so contact your ward councillor or the call centre if your street has been missed (Ridge Times). Store water in clean, closed containers when a tanker arrives.
Who do I call to report no water?
| Channel | Details |
|---|---|
| Call centre | 0800 600 001 or 0800 600 004 (Govan Mbeki Municipality) |
| Switchboard | 017 620 6000, option 2 for the call centre (Govan Mbeki Municipality) |
| 083 790 0659 (Govan Mbeki Municipality) | |
| [email protected] (gov.za) |
Always ask for a reference number when you report.
FAQ
Is there water in Secunda today?
Parts of Secunda are still reporting dry taps on 10 November 2026, and the municipality has not given a restoration date.
Why is Bethal without water?
The municipality says Rand Water reported low suction at its supply points. Rand Water says high demand, power interruptions and slow reservoir recovery also play a role.
How do I report no water in Govan Mbeki?
Call the municipal call centre on 0800 600 001 or 0800 600 004, or WhatsApp 083 790 0659, and ask for a reference number.