JSE-listed REIT, Redefine Properties, which has experienced water shortages of up to 10 days at time at some of its assets, believes even further water challenges loom due to ailing infrastructure and lack of capacity at municipalities.
This comes as Rand Water yesterday began maintenance on its Palmiet and Mapleton systems scheduled to completed on July 29 and which was expected to result in water interruptions in Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Govan Mbeki, Johannesburg, Lesedi, Madibeng, Mogale City, Merafong City, Rand West City, Rustenburg, Thembisile Hani, and Victor Khanye municipalities.
Redefine, which owns about R70 billion of commercial, industrial and retail properties mostly in South Africa, said yesterday while its previous focus on water was to reduce consumption, it was now developing further storage capacity to provide a five-day buffer at certain buildings in case of a major water outage.
Redefines sustainability project manager Victor Mathey said in some parts of the country, water shortages had increased in frequency, with water supplies cut off for up to 10 days in a row or more.
Experts blame the issues on municipalities underdeveloped infrastructure and lack of infrastructure maintenance which is impacting supply networks, he said.
