City of Tshwane Reclaims Emergency Water Services to Curb Private Contractor Reliance and "Tanker Mafia" Influence

City of Tshwane expands its municipal water tanker fleet to 41 units to eliminate reliance on private contractors and the "water tanker mafia."

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 31, 2026, 6:22 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Eyewitness News

A Shift Toward Municipal Self-Reliance

In a significant policy pivot, the City of Tshwane announced on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, that it will no longer depend on private contractors for emergency water distribution. This decision marks a mechanical necessity for the metro as it seeks to strengthen internal capacity and reduce the exorbitant costs associated with outsourcing basic service delivery. By bringing the fleet under direct municipal management, the city hopes to bypass the bureaucratic and financial hurdles that have plagued water relief efforts in recent years.

Fleet Expansion and Deployment Strategy

The metro’s emergency water fleet has grown to 41 tankers following the recent acquisition of 15 new units. Utility Services MMC Frans Boshielo confirmed that 26 of these tankers will be in daily operation starting tomorrow, April 1, supported by a newly recruited team of 23 municipal drivers. While emergency interruptions in suburban areas will be handled exclusively by the city, private contractors will temporarily maintain their roles in servicing informal settlements that lack permanent piped infrastructure.

Combating the "Water Tanker Mafia"

The move comes amidst a series of scandals involving allegations of a "water tanker mafia." Critics and investigators have suggested that private entities were intentionally exploiting the metro's budget, with some reports claiming the city spent upwards of R777 million on tanker rentals in a single year. By transitioning to a municipal-led model, the City of Tshwane intends to "restore control," ensuring that emergency funds are used for infrastructure rather than enriching intermediaries.