Johannesburg’s worsening water crisis is becoming a political liability for the ruling African National Congress (ANC) ahead of South Africa’s local elections. The city loses more than a third of its water supply daily through burst pipes, leaving many residents without a reliable water supply. Wealthier households are circumventing the problem by drilling boreholes and turning to private solutions. However, this reduces the municipal revenue base needed for repairs, thereby reinforcing the problem. Consequently, poorer residents, unable to afford alternatives, bear the brunt of shortages. The crisis reflects ageing infrastructure, weak maintenance, and a budget squeeze; the National Treasury withheld funding for the city over financial mismanagement. The water crisis has also prompted many residents to vow not to support the ANC in the coming elections. Despite this, the bigger risk of the failing infrastructure is widening inequality and declining trust in local government.