Residents of the Phumla Mqashi informal settlement, near Lenasia, say they will continue with protests until the water crisis in the area is addressed. This, after residents took to streets after being without water for days.
Members of the community barricaded the Golden Highway in Johannesburg with rocks, forcing motorists to use alternative routes.
Holding up placards with slogans such as “we want water” residents of the Phumla Mqashi informal settlement say they do not want to hand over their memorandum of grievances to the mayor’s office, as it failed to respond to them previously.
Community leader, Jeffrey Mphohoni says they want representatives from the Department of Water and Sanitation to receive it instead.
“This year we have taken a step to call the office of the President and Minister of Water and Sanitation on 18 January. We gave them time to say we can come at the Civic Centre on 3rd of March to receive our memorandum.”
Residents are frustrated with Johannesburg Water not being able to provide them with water. In November last year, Johannesburg Water disconnected the informal settlement’s illegal water supply connections.
However, the water utility provided more than 50 water tanks in the area. But residents say the tanks are not enough for the whole community.
“I feel pain each and every day, we wake up early in the morning at 3 o’clock to queue for water and we have to go back again to make sure that kids are going to school and kids come back saying there is no water we must come back home, meaning I see them fail and we women feel pain we must go and wash where the water flows,” a resident elaborates.
“This affects us because we also have old people and people living with disability,” another resident explains.
“They should open the valve. You can’t say we are stealing water for eight years and still not provide service delivery. We won’t have elections at Phumla Mqashi,” a resident says.
Meanwhile, the EFF in Gauteng marched to Johannesburg Water’s offices, demanding water cuts to stop. EFF Gauteng chairperson, Nkululeko Dunga says access to water is a basic human right.
“They are removing water meters, therefore creating low water supply for communities and households, and that’s an unconstitutional act, which is an indirect violation of human rights. So we are calling on them to stop that part.”
Residents dispersed after police fired stun grenades into the crowd. They say they’ll continue protesting until the water situation is resolved.
