Let justice flow: A call before the State of the Nation Address - Statement
“Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant.” (Mark 10:43)
As South Africa prepares to listen to the State of the Nation Address this evening, we do so amid a deepening water
crisis in Johannesburg that undermines the dignity of our people daily. Access to sufficient water is not a luxury; it is a constitutional right. Without water, families cannot cook, wash, or clean, and they cannot maintain a decent quality of life.
The water crisis has revealed serious failures at both municipal and provincial levels.
The Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Dada Morero, has outlined
technical interventions and emphasised water demand management. Yet the response has been inadequate. It places disproportionate emphasis on reducing consumption, subtly shifting responsibility to residents, while failing to confront deeper issues: ageing infrastructure, maintenance backlogs, leakage losses, rapid population growth, and insufficient system capacity. Above all, there has been a grave lack of clear communication and coordination with the public. Leadership requires transparency,
planning, and accountability—not silence or deflection.
At provincial level, the Premier of Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, has sought to express solidarity with residents affected by water outages. Yet recent public comments have revealed something more troubling: a failure to assume political responsibility. While the Premier may not be operationally responsible for municipal infrastructure, he bears clear political and oversight
responsibility. He is the public face of governance in this province. He has the authority to coordinate national, provincial, and local stakeholders to craft a unified response. He has the constitutional power, under Section 139, to intervene where a municipality fails to fulfil its obligations. To minimise this responsibility is unacceptable.
This crisis also unfolds against a broader pattern of contested leadership. NGOs serving the
most vulnerable have struggled under his provincial administration. The appointment of Arnold Malotana as Head of Department in Gauteng Health, a period during which R250 million earmarked for cancer treatment was reportedly mismanaged, left patients and families devastated. The AmaPanyaza initiative, introduced as a crime-prevention measure, has faced serious questions about effectiveness and accountability, even as participants are now designated as peace officers. These instances,
viewed alongside the current water crisis, raise urgent questions about oversight, prudence, and mature governance. When can we, the people, expect consistent and accountable leadership?
As Pope Francis reminds, “Politics, though often denigrated, remains a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity, inasmuch as it seeks the common good.” Public office is not about popularity or proximity to power; it is about providing foundations for stable communities. When taps run dry for days, servant leadership demands decisive coordination, clear planning, and honest communication.
This evening, as the President
addresses the nation, we hope not to hear platitudes. We need concrete plans: timelines, accountability mechanisms, investment commitments, and coordinated governance structures to address this crisis decisively.
In a year of local government elections, leadership is under scrutiny. Trust cannot be demanded; it must be earned. The people of Johannesburg deserve leaders who understand that to govern is to serve—and that service begins
with securing the basic necessities of life.
ENDS
Grant Tungay SJ
Director - Jesuit Institute South Africa
+27 (0)64 666 6709
