WATCH: Douglasdale residents protest over frequent water outages
DOUGLASDALE – Some residents had no water from August 6 to 9.
The corner of Kingfisher Drive and Alexander Avenue was buzzing this afternoon, August 9, as Douglasdale residents gathered in protest over water issues.
These residents spent the weekend without water after the supply was cut on August 6 so that a burst pipe could be repaired. The water was restored this morning. According to resident Susan Mottram, water cuts due to burst pipes are common in the area.
Mottram explained the challenges residents faced to the Fourways Review and, in a Facebook post, Mottram stated, “Parts of Douglasdale and Fourways have been without municipal water for three days straight. Pipes have been bursting across the neighbourhood for months…”
Mottram called on others to join the peaceful protest ‘to raise the visibility of this serious problem and get some real attention for it at the highest level’.
Mark van der Merwe of the Democratic Alliance’s Ward 106 constituency explained the pipes in the area have been in need of repair since June last year. He added emergency funds were raised by Ward 106 councillor Chris Santana, Ward 93 councillor Candice James and Ward 115 councillor Matome Mafokwane to try to combat the issue.
“People need to report these water bursts so that the issues can be addressed as soon as possible. The pipes in the area are over 50 years old and should have been replaced years ago,” said van der Merwe.
“Things are being done to address the situation.”
Johannesburg Water tweeted yesterday, August 8, for residents of Fourways and Douglasdale to provide them with their street names if they were experiencing a water outage, and this morning at 9am, the water entity said the team was dispatched to the affected area in Douglasdale and would be checking the ‘PRV and flushing hydrants’.
Kindly provide us with your street name if you are experiencing water outage in #Fourways, #Douglasdale. ^NN
— Johannesburg Water (@JHBWater) August 8, 2021
Please note that the team has been dispatched to the affected area. We will be checking the prv and flushing hydrants. #Douglasdale ^NN
— Johannesburg Water (@JHBWater) August 9, 2021
The Fourways Review is following up with Joburg Water on this issue, and will update when more information is received.
Police were on-site at the protest to maintain order and social distancing among the protesters.
People driving past were hooting in solidarity with protesters.
Watch some of the action here:
This is a developing story, and the Fourways Review will update once we receive further information.
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