Residents of Sophiatown take their frustrations to the streets
Residents of Sophiatown took to the streets to protest after day five with no water on 12 November. Water has been out in the are from 7 November due to demand outstripping the supply from Rand Water. Residents protested to voice their frustrations and demand answers, blocking Edward Road in Sophiatown from 5pm to 8pm …
Residents of Sophiatown took to the streets to protest after day five with no water on 12 November.
Water has been out in the are from 7 November due to demand outstripping the supply from Rand Water.
Residents protested to voice their frustrations and demand answers, blocking Edward Road in Sophiatown from 5pm to 8pm on 12 November.
Sophiatown neighbourhood chairperson Dauw Steyn said, “Children from Laerskool Generaal Christiaan de Wet were sent home due to the water shortage on 12 November and most of them have not gone back to school today.”
Steyn added that the community received one tank within 45 minutes after the protest had started and that another was promised to be delivered to the school on 13 November.
“The information so far has been poorly communicated and the elderly and the children are suffering the most,” Steyn added.
Ward Councillor 86 Steve Kotzé said a water tanker was in position and people were drawing water.
Reports were coming in saying water was returning to their homes late on 12 November.
Protesters threatened to be back at 6am on 13 November to continue the protest.
“I visited the scene of the protest and will arrange that senior members of the city’s administration meet with the community to explain a plan of action and way forward on the current water crisis,” said Kotzé.
He added, “A small group of youths protested against the water outage in Sophiatown on 12 November. Concrete traffic bollards were vandalised.”
He also added that SAPS and JMPD were present.
JMPD spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said, “JMPD was there to monitor the situation and the protest was resolved peacefully.”
Colonel Madelein Bunce of Sophiatown Police Station also commented, “We were on sight to keep the situation under control. The residents had moved the mobile water tank to the middle of Edward Road and blocked the street.”
Col Bunce added that it was a peaceful protest and that people were emotional but caused no damage.
Details: Ward Councillor 86 Steve Kotzé, 082 654 6547.
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