Joburg Water regroups after failed cut-off drive in Lenasia
Johannesburg Water said its operations team would meet to discuss a way forward regarding implementing disconnections following violent resistance in Phumulamqashi, south of Johannesburg.
Johannesburg Water announced last week that it would embark on an aggressive operation to curb non-revenue water losses amid the constrained water supply in the metro.
On Tuesday, angry residents faced-off with Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officers after they allegedly pelted stones at officials and damaged three vehicles from Joburg Water and a security car.
Officers fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, and redirected traffic after portions of the Golden Highway were barricaded with rubble.
Incidents of looting at nearby stores were also reported.
READ MORE: Rubber bullets fly as Lenasia residents resist Joburg Water cut-off
Speaking to the SABC, community leader Funelwa Mooi said while they acknowledged that their accessed water unlawfully, they felt the entity reneged on commitments made at earlier engagements about remedying the situation.
“We’re so angry and disappointed because as leaders we had set a meeting with them, and they proposed that they would put standpipes on each street. Today they come to just cut off, with no communication from the councillor because if she had the information, she was going to tell us so that we have a plan B like Jojo tanks or tanks that will rotate around the area. There are 22 sections and all of them have been cut off.”
Mooi denied that the crowd provoked officers.
“They were not fighting, we were just singing and telling them to wait for our councillor so they can engage her, and we can understand what’s happening.
“We know that we’re illegally connected, the plan was on the table. But they just woke up and decided to cut the water. Now we have five members of our community who are in South Hospital. It’s bad.”
In a statement, Joburg Water said Phumulamqashi had no formal water supply infrastructure and was initially serviced with water tankers.
“Due to ongoing land invasions and subsequent illegal water connections, these tanks were vandalised, leading to increased strain on the local water supply network,” said spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala.
Shabalala said, following the suspension of the operation, the entity would restore water tank services to meet the basic needs of the affected community.
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