Johannesburg Water Protests Erupt Amid Extended Water Cuts: Residents Demand Action

Johannesburg Water Protests Erupt Amid Extended Water Cuts

Protests have flared across Johannesburg as residents continue to face extended water cuts, a situation exacerbated by issues with the Commando System. On November 26, 2024, and the days following, frustrated citizens took to the streets, burning tyres and halting traffic, demanding action from local authorities. Many areas have been without water for up to six days, one of the longest stretches in a city plagued by frequent interruptions to its water supply.

The Commando System Crisis

The Commando System, which supplies water to the south-western parts of Johannesburg, ran dry following technical issues earlier in November. While many Johannesburg residents are accustomed to weekly water cuts, this recent series of outages left communities struggling to meet basic needs.

Video footage from the protests shows residents taking to Fuel Road in Coronationville and areas near the Rahima Moosa Hospital in Western Township. The protests are part of a larger movement that began in response to the water crisis and will continue with demonstrations in Hursthill on Thursday, November 28.

The situation in the Western Township was dire, with Rahima Moosa Hospital only able to function thanks to a borehole system installed by the Gift of the Givers. Hospital CEO Dr. Arthur Manning confirmed that the facility was operating with the help of water tankers, though the water supply had recently been restored.

“We are fortunate to continue operations, but it’s an emergency situation. We depend on the borehole and external support,” Dr. Manning stated.

Challenges of Daily Life Without Water

The widespread water shortages have affected daily life in Johannesburg, with many residents struggling to maintain sanitation and hygiene. Raylene Nadassen, a representative from St. Theresa’s Convent in Coronationville, shared her frustration:

“Trying to run a school without water is like asking for a miracle. We’ve even had to pay R8,500 to fill our JoJo tanks through a private company. We can’t afford that. I’m beyond disgusted,” Nadassen said.

A reservoir update shared by Johannesburg Water with local councillors revealed that Hursthill 1 and 2 reservoirs were empty, exacerbating the water crisis. The failure of the Commando System, combined with increased demand during the hot summer months, has left the city grappling with a severely depleted water supply.

Efforts to Resolve the Crisis

To address the Commando System’s dry status, Rand Water has increased its supply by 100 megalitres to support Johannesburg’s water system. Ntshavheni Mukwevho, the Managing Director of Johannesburg Water, assured residents that recovery was underway:

“It will stabilize overnight, and areas served by the Crown, Quellerina, and Waterval reservoirs will recover quickly. The Commando System will take longer, but it should improve in a day or two,” Mukwevho said.

However, this recovery process has been slower than anticipated, and many areas, including Eldorado Park, Soweto, and Lenasia, continue to face outages. Residents in northern suburbs like Hyde Park — where President Cyril Ramaphosa resides — reported low water pressure, with some experiencing water throttling that limits the supply during evening hours.

Systemic Water Management Failures

The ongoing crisis stems from a series of systemic issues, including faulty infrastructure and poor maintenance of the city’s 87 water reservoirs. Dr. Ferrial Adam, Executive Manager of WaterCan, revealed that nearly half of the city’s reservoirs are leaking, which means they need to be emptied and repaired.

In addition, City Power shut down the Eikenhof substation on 14 November for emergency repairs, disrupting the operation of the Eikenhof pumping station. This, in turn, affected Rand Water, the bulk water supplier, and contributed to the city-wide water disruptions.

Nicole van Dyk, a DA councillor specializing in water, urged the city’s water utility to improve its monitoring of Rand Water’s supply to ensure adequate volumes and pressure for residents.

Moving Forward: A Plan for Water Security

The protests are part of a broader dissatisfaction with Johannesburg’s ongoing water issues, with residents questioning the efficacy of the current water management strategies. The Platform for a Water-Secure Gauteng is now monitoring the situation more closely, releasing weekly water status updates to help manage water consumption and distribution.

In the face of continued challenges, the government is working to manage the water system more effectively and ensure that Johannesburg can avoid further service disruptions.