Coronationville residents protest ongoing water crisis, demand urgent action

Coronationville residents protested today, blocking roads and burning tires to demand action on a five-year water crisis that has left them feeling neglected.

18 hours ago

Waydon Jacobs 1 minute read

Residents of Coronationville took to the streets in a demonstration against a severe water crisis that has persisted for over five years.
The protest, which involved burning tyres and blocking roads, disrupted traffic at the junction of Perth Road and Harmony Street, affecting access to the nearby Helen Joseph Hospital and surrounding areas of Westdene, Brixton, and Westbury.

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The protest was staged in two parts, first at 08:00 and again at 15:00, as frustrated residents sought to draw attention to the long-standing issue of non-delivery of water services. Motorists were advised to seek alternative routes into Johannesburg, particularly those travelling from the West Rand, to avoid the blocked roads.
Donovan Elias, a resident of Coronationville, voiced the struggles faced by the community. “We have been fighting for water for more than five years. We are paying for air instead of water. The meter is running, but there is no water.
“Our children can’t even go to school or wash themselves properly,” he lamented. Elias explained that residents have been forced to wake up at 2:00 to prepare for their day, often relying on a borehole opened by a local mosque to obtain water.

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The ongoing water delivery issues have left residents feeling neglected and desperate, prompting the community to take a stand.
As the protest continues to highlight the urgent need for action, residents of Coronationville are calling on local authorities to address their water crisis and restore essential services to their neighbourhood.