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Protests erupt in Johannesburg suburb over water crisis
Residents of Greenside, a leafy suburb in northern Johannesburg, took to the streets on Thursday, chanting and banging empty plastic bottles to demand reliable access to water. Many have gone without running water for over a month, sparking frustration over what they call a violation of their constitutional rights.
Long-standing shortages disrupt daily life
Colin Regesky, a local resident, described the situation as unsustainable. "Our pipes have been bone-dry with no water coming through at all," he said. "It's not very healthy because everyone can get sick with no running water. And also, according to the constitution, it's our right to have water."
Jenny Gillies, who has lived in Greenside for 40 years, called the crisis a "disgrace." "We are reduced to begging and protesting for water," she said.
Water shortages surpass electricity crisis in severity
While Johannesburg grappled with crippling electricity shortages-known as load shedding-from 2022 to early 2024, residents now say water shortages pose an even greater threat. Experts attribute the crisis to years of underinvestment in aging infrastructure, exacerbated by criminal syndicates known as "water mafias."
In Hammanskraal, a township over 100 km north of Johannesburg, residents have faced unreliable water access for over a decade. Pastor Tshepo Mahlaule, 35, showed reporters a dry tap in his backyard. "For two months, there's been no water. Our kids need to wash every day, their uniforms need to be washed, and we have no water," he said.
Criminal syndicates exploit water crisis
The Tshwane municipality has resorted to hiring tankers to deliver drinking water, but allegations of corruption have surfaced. The opposition Democratic Alliance accused "water mafias" of monopolizing the tanker industry, though no evidence was provided.
Dr. Ferrial Adam, executive director of the nonprofit Watercan, explained how these syndicates operate. "They get tenders to provide water but either lack expertise or deliberately damage infrastructure to prolong their contracts," she said. "Some even charge residents for water that should be free."
Eric Sebotsane, a 62-year-old Hammanskraal resident, confirmed these practices. "Some truck drivers sell the water. When you say you want water, they say you must buy. Because everything here is money-when you don't have money, you can't do anything."
Government promises action amid skepticism
Last year, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa urged law enforcement to dismantle criminal water tanker operations. In February, he announced the formation of a National Water Crisis Committee to coordinate responses. Addressing Parliament last week, he warned that municipal managers failing to comply with the National Water Act could face criminal charges.
"Our interventions in the water crisis should make a real and lasting difference in people's lives,"
President Cyril Ramaphosa
However, Dr. Adam expressed doubt about the government's ability to curb the mafias. "Residents in the worst-affected areas are scared," she said. "They won't report illegal activities because they fear losing their water supply."
Debate over short-term solutions
Cilliers Brink, a Democratic Alliance politician and former Tshwane mayor, suggested municipalities purchase their own tankers to reduce reliance on contractors. "This would remove the incentive for abuse," he said, though he acknowledged it was not a long-term fix.
Dr. Adam disagreed, calling tankers an unsustainable solution. "In smaller towns, borehole water could be a better alternative," she said. "Tankers should only be a short-term measure, not the norm."
Daily struggles for South Africa's poorest
In Hammanskraal, car washers rely on a public tap, hauling heavy water containers over 2 km in wheelbarrows for each job. The water crisis disproportionately affects the country's most vulnerable populations.
The Tshwane municipality did not respond to requests for comment on its plans to address the crisis.
