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‘Enough is enough!’ – DA demands action on Joburg’s water crisis, gives mayor deadline [VIDEO]
The DA led a protest in Johannesburg, demanding action on the water crisis and an overhaul of Johannesburg Water's leadership
DA supporters take part in a demonstration, on 27 November 2024, outside the Johannesburg Council Chambers in Braamfontein. They were protesting against the City of Joburg’s water issues, including the lack of resource allocation to rectify infrastructure issues, the composition of the board and Joburg Water’s poor communication strategy. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen
On Wednesday, the DA protested outside the City of Johannesburg’s (CoJ) Council Chambers to highlight the city’s inability to manage the ongoing water crisis, giving the mayor a 14-day deadline to dissolve Johannesburg Water.
DA Johannesburg caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, DA Gauteng shadow MEC of infrastructure Nico de Jager, DA Johannesburg shadow MMC of infrastructure Nicole van Dyk, and DA Johannesburg Regional Chairperson Wendy Alexander led the protest.
The party estimated around 500 people joined the march.
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‘Enough is enough’ says DA
“Enough is enough. The mayor must dissolve the board of Johannesburg Water and start to bring about the change people so desperately need.
“The situation in Johannesburg is untenable, and without immediate intervention and changes, we are staring down the barrel of a full-blown humanitarian crisis,” Kayser-Echeozonjoku said at the march.
Watch: DA protests outside Johannesburg’s council chambers
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14-day deadline
Two memorandums of demands were handed over to the CoJ Executive and the Office of the Speaker.
The party submitted the first memorandum to Mayor Dada Morero, which called for the dissolution of the board of Johannesburg Water.
The second was handed to the Office of the Speaker of the Johannesburg Council, Councillor Nobuhle Mthembu, urging her to ensure that there is oversight over both a turnaround strategy and disaster management plan.
Both the Mayor’s and Speaker’s offices are yet to respond to the demands. Any update will be included once received.
Speaking to The Citizen, Kayser-Echeozonjoku said the Mayor and Speaker had 14 days to respond to their demands.
“We demand that he responds within this time frame, not just for our benefit, but for the benefit of the residents of Johannesburg.
“Hundreds of thousands of people are sat without water, it’s no way to live. He must take us, and the people of Johannesburg into confidence. We know there is a crisis, but promises won’t fix it. We want action.
“We want to see the mayor tell us that he will be dissolving the board of Johannesburg Water and replacing it with experts in the field of water supply.”
Kayser-Echeozonjoku said the DA has already laid complaints with the Human Rights Commission, labelling it “a full-blown humanitarian crisis”.
“We expect to receive feedback from that, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that the people of Johannesburg receive the service delivery they require.”
‘Protecting cadres’
The DA also accused the ANC/ActionSA/EFF/PA coalition of driving the City of Johannesburg into the ground.
“It is untenable that a board of directors filled with cadres has let the City down, and this under the watch of the ANC/ActionSA/EFF/PA executive.
“While the city of Johannesburg crumbles, they are concerned with protecting their cadres. And the people of Johannesburg know this. They understand that this crisis is man-made.
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Additional reporting by Enkosi Selane.
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