Media narratives significantly influence public opinion in South Africa. This article scrutinises recent critiques of Rand Water and the Gauteng government, highlighting how selective scrutiny and misinformation can undermine trust in vital institutions.
Image: IOL
By Herman Radali
In a country striving for transformation and equitable service delivery, media narratives shape public opinion and influence decisions. Recent critiques of Rand Water and the Gauteng government, particularly by journalist Ferial Haffajee, deserve closer scrutiny. Authors Zukiswa Wanner and Mahlatsi Malaika argue that selective scrutiny and misinformation can erode trust in critical institutions, undermining their efforts to address systemic challenges.
The ongoing media targeting of public officials, including Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, exemplifies how bias often overshadows facts. This calls for balanced reporting that considers systemic constraints while holding institutions accountable.
On December 14, 2024, Haffajee claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that the Rand Water Board lacked engineers, sparking public outrage. Zukiswa Wanner, in her article "The Importance of Questioning Statements Around Gauteng's Water Crisis" (IOL, December 17, 2024), debunked this claim, highlighting the diverse expertise within the board.
“Ms. Haffajee’s post… took me all of five minutes to see the qualifications of Mr. [Sipho] Mosai… and Mr. [Solomon] Mngomezulu (a lawyer) on LinkedIn,” writes Wanner. She emphasises the board's multidisciplinary leadership, which includes two qualified civil engineers, a microbiologist CEO, finance experts, and legal professionals.
Similarly, Mahlatsi Malaika’s article "Ferial Haffajee’s Rand Water Misinformation" (EWN, December 18, 2024) states: “The claim that Rand Water’s board lacks engineers is factually false. Two civil engineers serve on the board, alongside other qualified professionals whose expertise is crucial to the organisation’s operational success.”
Both authors argue that such leadership diversity is vital for managing complex utilities like Rand Water, and Haffajee’s oversimplified critique unfairly targets a well-performing institution.
Selective scrutiny extends to Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, whose administration has faced repeated attacks despite notable interventions in education, youth employment, crime prevention, and infrastructure development. Media critiques, such as those in The Daily Maverick, often highlight short-term setbacks while ignoring systemic challenges Lesufi inherited.
Wanner notes:“The same leaders working to undo decades of underdevelopment and racialised infrastructure inequalities are unfairly targeted, with their efforts dismissed.”
Malaika questions the double standards applied to Black-led governments, stating:“Lesufi’s policies may not be perfect, but dismissing his administration’s work without providing the full context of historical and systemic issues reveals an inherent bias.”
This pattern of unfair treatment mirrors the misinformed attacks on Rand Water, emphasising the need for equitable reporting.
At the Rand Water Talks seminar on December 9, 2024, hosted in collaboration with the Progressive Professionals Forum Gauteng, Prof. Anthony Turton highlighted the challenges and opportunities in water sustainability. Held under the theme "What Threatens Water Sustainability in South Africa," the seminar showcased Rand Water's proactive leadership in tackling systemic issues.
Prof. Turton praised the expertise of senior executives like CEO Sipho Mosai and Dr. Leslie Hoy, framing the scarcity of skills as an opportunity to foster future leaders. Key discussions included:
The seminar reaffirmed Rand Water’s commitment to transparent governance, skills development, and innovation to secure South Africa’s water future.
Haffajee also criticised Rand Water’s maintenance work at Eikenhof, framing it as mismanagement. However, Wanner and Malaika cited WaterCAN, a network of citizen science activists, to counter these claims.
WaterCAN observed the installation of seven massive valves, each weighing nearly ten tonnes, designed to enable pump maintenance without disrupting water supply. This intervention, while causing short-term inconvenience, is critical for long-term infrastructure sustainability.
Wanner writes: “The scale and intensity of the work currently underway was impressive… [ensuring] future reliability of the system.”
Malaika adds: “Criticism of Rand Water ignores systemic issues, such as inadequate local government management, poor infrastructure funding, and the impact of drought across the region.”
Both authors highlight the importance of acknowledging systemic challenges while critiquing institutions.
Selective scrutiny of Black-led institutions like Rand Water and leaders like Panyaza Lesufi risks eroding public trust and shifting blame away from systemic issues. Wanner cautions against sensationalism: “Jumping the gun by pulling the trope of cadre deployment on a varied but educated board seems unfair.”
Malaika concludes: “Journalists have a responsibility to critique fairly and accurately. Misleading narratives risk undermining public confidence and institutional effectiveness.”
The water outages in Gauteng are frustrating for residents, but critiques must be grounded in facts and context. As Wanner and Malaika demonstrate, systemic challenges require collective efforts and balanced reporting. By fostering responsible journalism, we can hold institutions accountable while working to address South Africa’s broader governance and infrastructure challenges.
* Herman Radali, Progressive Professionals Forum Gauteng Convenor. Writing in his personal capacity.
** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.
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