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Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has issued an apology to Johannesburg residents after facing heavy criticism for suggesting he sometimes showers at a hotel during water outages.
The remark, made during a media briefing on the province’s worsening water shortages, triggered outrage on social media. Many residents said his comments appeared disconnected from the daily reality of households that cannot afford alternative arrangements while taps run dry.
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In response to the uproar, Lesufi moved to clarify his statement and express regret.
‘You Can Smell Me’: Frustration Boils Over in Brixton
Tempers flared during Wednesday’s visit to affected areas, with some residents confronting officials directly.
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero acknowledged that certain communities were effectively experiencing “day zero” after prolonged supply interruptions.
One resident challenged leaders on the ground, saying: “You can smell me. I haven’t had water for 24 days. But that apart, it’s been a year that we don’t have water at night…Brixton, right here behind me.”
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During the engagement, Lesufi said: “I also experience water shortages, and in certain instances, I had to go to a certain hotel so that I could bathe and go to my commitments.”
He added that officials do not receive preferential treatment.
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“People think that if there is no water, then ourselves and our families get special water. We don’t… we also go through the same inconveniences like any other person. There is no special water or pipe designed to serve other people. Our families, our relatives, our constituencies suffer the same pain.
“We don’t have water when the community doesn’t have water, but what we have is the responsibility to fix the problem, and the problem is almost fixed,” said Lesufi.
The comments quickly drew criticism online, with users arguing that many residents do not have the financial means to book hotel rooms during outages.
Panyaza Lesufi Issues Formal Apology as Protests Spread Across Joburg
Later, Lesufi released a formal apology through his spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga.
“Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, wishes to sincerely apologise for any misunderstanding or offence caused by a statement he made while clarifying comments during a media briefing addressing water challenges in the province,” said Mhlanga.
“The Premier acknowledges that his statement, in which he made reference to a hotel, may have been interpreted in a manner that suggested that the impact of water challenges differs based on one’s position in society. This was never his intention.”
Mhlanga stressed that water shortages affect all residents, regardless of social or economic standing.
“Premier Lesufi wishes to make it unequivocally clear that water shortages and supply interruptions are an inconvenience and hardship to all residents of Gauteng, regardless of social, economic, or professional standing,” he said.
“Access to water is a basic human right, and any disruption affects families, communities, businesses, and institutions across the province.”
Lesufi added: “No one is immune to the frustration and disruption caused by water shortages, and I regret any impression that suggested otherwise.”
The water crisis has left suburbs including Melville, Parktown West, Mayfair, Greenside, Parkview and Emmarentia without reliable supply for nearly 25 days. On Wednesday, frustrated residents took to the streets in protest.
Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo, who accompanied Lesufi and Morero, indicated that the department is considering introducing soft restrictions to stabilise the system.
As pressure intensifies, provincial leaders insist that restoring consistent water supply remains a top priority.
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