Joburg Water shock: Grid near collapse as authorities do not have funds to fix ageing infrastructure

Johannesburg is staring a full-blown crisis in the face as the collapse of the city's water and sanitation grid looks imminent, with concerns authorities do not have the R64 billion needed to replace and refurbish failing infrastructure.

Water authorities have now warned that substantial water and infrastructure backlogs resulting from budget constraints are stunting and handicapping economic growth and development in the financial capital of South Africa and the entire continent.

The lack of money to replace and renew the water and sanitation grid will not only lead to the failure of infrastructure, but also major financial losses for businesses and customers, water officials and economists have cautioned.