Residents of Emmarentia held an ad-hoc protest yesterday afternoon (July 3) to express their frustration over the ongoing water crisis in the area.
The protest took place at the corner of Barry Hertzog Avenue and Judith Road during peak hour traffic. Residents gathered as anger spilt onto the streets due to the area being without water for nine days.
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The group forms part of a broader city-wide network, the Water Crisis Committee, which comprises residents, water experts, activists and non-profits who monitor and highlight water issues.
Dr Ferrial Adam from Outa’s WaterCAN was in attendance. “The water crisis in Emmarentia is not an isolated incident, other areas, such as Kensington also face water problems.”
She mentioned the water crisis was not something new which was cold comfort for those who struggle daily with dry taps. “The people of Johannesburg have been grappling with water supply issues since last year. Efforts are underway to connect with other groups and organisations to address the broader water challenges in the metro.”
Adam queried why the area, which is serviced by the Hursthill 2 reservoir, which is part of the Commando water network, has taken so long to have supply restored. “We don’t know what is causing this lack of water. We thought it might be an airlock, but authorities denied this. So what is it and I think they just keep giving us stories?”
Participants were encouraged to bring their placards, banners and empty 5-litre plastic bottles to create noise by banging on them with wooden spoons or sticks. Passing motorists hooted in support of the picket and responded amicably as the road was partially blocked along Barry Hertzog Avenue.
Slogans for the demonstration included, ‘thirsty for answers’ and ‘we want water’ and, ‘demanding water equality’.
Ward 88 councillor Nicolene Jonker said, “Despite the dedication of some Johannesburg Water officials, it is clear that we urgently need a budget allocation for infrastructure maintenance. The impact of this week’s outage on our residents underscores this necessity.”
She added that yesterday, residents in Emmarentia and Northcliff Ext 25, parts of which are fed from the Quellerina water tower, received water. “This is a significant relief for those affected.”
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JMPD soon arrived at the scene to ensure public safety and to manage traffic.
The protest highlighted the growing concern among residents and civil society regarding the water situation in Johannesburg. It also served as a reminder that access to water was a right enshrined in the Constitution and city mandates.
The Water Crisis Committee, of which Adam is a member, said it was vital for authorities to address these concerns and work towards resolving the water challenges faced by the city.
Nombuso Shabalala, spokesperson for Johannesburg Water said, “A team, led by the depot manager responsible for the Emmarentia area and surrounding areas, was on site for most of the day yesterday actively flushing the system to remove airlocks, to ensure the restoration of water services. The majority of the streets are now receiving water.
“We are aware that some streets are still experiencing interruptions. We are continuously monitoring the situation and working diligently to identify and resolve any remaining issues. These issues are mainly due to the Rand Water maintenance which is currently ongoing and having an impact on some of our systems.
Rand Water spokesperson Makenosi Maroo said, “Rand Water has undertaken an extensive proactive maintenance project. We have completed maintenance work that affected the Eikenhof and Zwartkopjes systems. Rand Water is pumping water, and the system is recovering.”
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