The Ledger SA https://theledgersa.com/ How South Africa’s metros are really doing, in numbers you can check. Stories and the newest official figures for South Africa’s eight metros. en-za Mon, 12 Oct 2026 07:52:23 GMT Water lost before it is sold https://theledgersa.com/stories/water-lost/ https://theledgersa.com/stories/water-lost/ Sat, 10 Oct 2026 22:00:00 GMT Story How much of the water each metro buys or treats never earns any money, against Treasury’s norm, first and latest year. (Official: audited annual financial statements) Weekly refuse removal, 2011 and 2022 https://theledgersa.com/stories/refuse-census-2022/ https://theledgersa.com/stories/refuse-census-2022/ Sat, 10 Oct 2026 22:00:00 GMT Story More households had weekly refuse removal in most metros, but a smaller share in several. Census 2022 against Census 2011. (Official: Stats SA, Census 2022 and 2011) Dam levels: Integrated Vaal River System (Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni): 97% full, against 98% a year earlier. https://theledgersa.com/metros/johannesburg/water/ https://theledgersa.com/metros/johannesburg/water/#dam-levels-2026-10-10 Fri, 09 Oct 2026 22:00:00 GMT Update Integrated Vaal River System (Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni): 97% full, against 98% a year earlier. Official: DWS weekly State of Reservoirs. Dam levels: eThekwini: the Mgeni system’s dams 90.0% full. https://theledgersa.com/metros/ethekwini/water/ https://theledgersa.com/metros/ethekwini/water/#dam-levels-2026-10-09 Thu, 08 Oct 2026 22:00:00 GMT Update eThekwini: the Mgeni system’s dams 90.0% full. Official: uMngeni-uThukela Water. Umlazi’s water in 2026: 20 notices in 10 months https://theledgersa.com/stories/umlazi-water-2026/ https://theledgersa.com/stories/umlazi-water-2026/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 22:00:00 GMT Story Every eThekwini water notice that named a place in Umlazi this year, month by month. (Official: eThekwini press statements) Dam levels: Nelson Mandela Bay: the Algoa system’s dams 101.2% full. https://theledgersa.com/metros/nelson-mandela-bay/water/ https://theledgersa.com/metros/nelson-mandela-bay/water/#dam-levels-2026-10-08 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 22:00:00 GMT Update Nelson Mandela Bay: the Algoa system’s dams 101.2% full. Official: Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. Power notices: 10 power outage notices in the last 7 days: Johannesburg 6, Nelson Mandela Bay 3, Mangaung 1. https://theledgersa.com/electricity/ https://theledgersa.com/electricity/#power-notices-2026-10-08 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 22:00:00 GMT Update 10 power outage notices in the last 7 days: Johannesburg 6, Nelson Mandela Bay 3, Mangaung 1. Official: Metro outage notices. Fuel price: Petrol 95 in Gauteng: R30.25 a litre from 7 Oct 2026. https://theledgersa.com/big-picture/#fuel https://theledgersa.com/big-picture/#fuel#fuel-price-2026-10-07 Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:00:00 GMT Update Petrol 95 in Gauteng: R30.25 a litre from 7 Oct 2026. Official: Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources. Dam levels: Cape Town’s dams: 75.3% full, against 76.1% a week earlier. https://theledgersa.com/metros/cape-town/water/ https://theledgersa.com/metros/cape-town/water/#dam-levels-2026-10-05 Sun, 04 Oct 2026 22:00:00 GMT Update Cape Town’s dams: 75.3% full, against 76.1% a week earlier. Official: City of Cape Town. Water use: Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane bought 3 641 Ml a day from Rand Water. The level set for them under Rand Water’s permanent licence: 3 045 Ml a day. https://theledgersa.com/water/#water-use https://theledgersa.com/water/#water-use#water-use-2026-09-21 Sun, 20 Sep 2026 22:00:00 GMT Update Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane bought 3 641 Ml a day from Rand Water. The level set for them under Rand Water’s permanent licence: 3 045 Ml a day. Official: Rand Water. Dam levels: Mangaung: Welbedacht 100%, Knellpoort 100%, Rustfontein 91%, Groothoek 92% full. https://theledgersa.com/metros/mangaung/water/ https://theledgersa.com/metros/mangaung/water/#dam-levels-2026-09-15 Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:00:00 GMT Update Mangaung: Welbedacht 100%, Knellpoort 100%, Rustfontein 91%, Groothoek 92% full. Official: Vaal Central Water. By-election: Buffalo City ward 1: won by ANC; Buffalo City ward 10: won by ANC. https://theledgersa.com/elections/2026/#by-elections https://theledgersa.com/elections/2026/#by-elections#by-election-2026-06-17 Tue, 16 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMT Update Buffalo City ward 1: won by ANC; Buffalo City ward 10: won by ANC. Official: Electoral Commission (IEC).