Image Source: SowetanLive
Johannesburg – Westbury residents are growing increasingly frustrated, suspecting their ongoing water crisis may be deliberate as protests stretch into a second day. Although Rand Water warned that water levels across Gauteng had dropped due to excessive municipal consumption, residents argue this doesn’t explain the strange supply patterns they’ve experienced.
Local protester Hoosain Van Zyl shared that water has only flowed between midnight and dawn for four years, forcing families to complete essential tasks in the early hours. The water is already off when they wake up for school or work.
What puzzles and frustrates residents further is that neighbouring areas have consistent water, despite sharing the same pipelines. This disparity has led to growing suspicions that water is being intentionally diverted away from their community.
“We’d like to know how it is possible for you to pump water in the middle of the morning hours, but you can’t pump during the day. Joburg Water is very skittish about the whole thing. They don’t answer, they don’t say anything concrete, they don’t give proper proof, and they don’t allow people in to see what’s really happening.”
“We have guys that are engineers in the field. My brother explained how this thing works and said it’s impossible for me not to have water. However, it’s strange enough that certain areas don’t have water. Still, the pipelines that feed the other areas do have water passing through our area, and that water is passing past us. It’s going to other areas, and it’s feeding there. So it sounds like a sabotage situation.”
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Westbury Residents Are Calling for Leaders to Step Up
Furthermore, Van Zyl explained that efforts to engage officials have yielded vague and unsatisfying responses, leaving many residents feeling that authorities are hiding the real reasons behind the irregular supply.
“Officials are not forthcoming about the situation or trying to resolve problems. They don’t even want to speak to anyone. We tried to get hold of the councillor. Still, the councillor is hesitant to engage with the community because they previously attacked her. I wouldn’t say they physically attacked her, but they verbally attacked her, making her feel uncomfortable and unsafe.”
“I understand her stance, but at the same time, being a councillor is part of the job. She has to engage with the community and say, “Okay, I’ll meet with a delegation of your community,” and then provide the community with feedback. We are willing to cooperate, but we need feedback regarding what will happen with the water issues in the area.”
Despite the lack of transparency, the community has proposed practical solutions, such as installing boreholes and JoJo tanks to provide steady access to water. However, residents suspect that the municipality is hesitant to act, concerned that these alternatives might cut into water revenue.
The community has also made clear what they expect from their leaders, such as open communication, transparency about the causes of the water disruptions, and accountability from both Rand Water and local authorities.
They are calling for inspections of reservoirs and pipelines, with officials joining community members to verify whether water shortages are legitimate. Additionally, they expect a timeline for restoring full water access and a plan to prevent future disruptions.
