“It’s Ruining the Whole Aesthetic”: Internet Relates as Johannesburg Influencer Vlogs Water Shortage

• Siyamthanda, an influencer from Johannesburg, showed her online audience how she coped without running water in her home
• She showcased her bathtime routine and how she washed the dishes with the water she had stored away
• Social media users gathered in the comments to express their relatable thoughts about the shutdown
• A Johannesburg resident spoke to Briefly News, sharing her thoughts about how Rand Water and the City of Johannesburg have handled the situation

A Johannesburg influencer named Siyamthanda shared a snippet of her day without water during the vibrant city's crisis. Many social media users expressed that they could relate to the struggle.

The water shortage has many residents experiencing temporary outages since Rand Water began its planned maintenance on Saturday, 13 December 2025, Business Day reported.

Siyamthanda posted her video on 16 December 2025, where the online audience got a glimpse of her chic home. In the clip, she showed herself using a plastic tub of boiled water to bathe before receiving her groceries through Checkers' delivery service, Checkers Sixty60.

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The water she stored in a large bucket was added to a kettle, which she then boiled to use to wash the dishes. The video showcased that while influencers often portray a life of glitz and glam, they, too, are affected by everyday struggles.

Johannesburg resident talks about water shortage

Briefly News reporter Nerissa Naidoo stated that she wasn't impressed with how Rand Water and the City of Johannesburg handled the situation. She noted that water throttling is very disruptive, especially for those with children or who live in areas where taps run dry for hours, and the water only comes back late in the evening.

"After dealing with this problem for years, it feels like there should be better long-term solutions in place by now. Instead of simply cutting water at certain times of the day, Rand Water and the City of Johannesburg should have implemented alternative measures to ensure a more consistent water supply throughout the year."

Internet comments on Johannesburg's water shortage

Local online users flooded the comment section to share their thoughts on what Siyamthanda and many other Johannesburg residents were experiencing.

@mondynkosizwane wrote under the post:

"Kanti, what’s happening ngampela? This is frustrating."

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@.boobear72 stated to internet users:

"It’s ruining the whole aesthetic."

@ramakgapolaprecious shared online:

"I'm so frustrated at this point. I don’t even want to go to the bathroom."

@thato..malekane told the public:

"I'd rather not have electricity than water. Yes, the house becomes cold, but everything becomes dirty when there's no water. I find it hard to process the second day without it."

Watch the TikTok video posted on Siyamthanda's account below:

3 Other stories about Johannesburg water shortages

• In another article published in September 2025, Briefly News reported that Johannesburg Water announced a 14-hour throttle on reservoirs and towers.
• Last year, 13 suburbs experienced a 21-hour shutdown. The purpose was to fix the leaking pipe fittings.
• Johannesburg Water announced on 15 December 2024 that it had almost completed the planned maintenance on the Zwartskopjes Power Station.

Source: Briefly News