Residents of President Ridge have been left frustrated after JW postpones a meeting concerning their lack of water
The President Ridge community remains without answers after Johannesburg Water postponed a scheduled meeting meant to address persistent water shortages and inconsistent water pressure affecting homes.
Since September 3 residents of President Ridge in Randburg have been grappling with significant water supply disruptions. The ongoing crisis has severely impacted daily life, with many households experiencing fluctuating water pressure and frequent complete outages, particularly during peak daytime hours. Despite multiple interventions and reports, including efforts by Ward councillor Lucinda Harman, the situation remains unresolved.
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The residents have grown increasingly frustrated by the lack of clear communication and decisive action from Johannesburg Water (JW). While level one water restrictions have been implemented across Johannesburg due to the broader water supply challenges, the situation in President Ridge appears to be a localized issue, possibly exacerbated by systemic problems that have yet to be adequately addressed.
Initially, residents were hopeful when JW officials scheduled a meeting for September 18, during which they expected an explanation and concrete action plan. However, the meeting was abruptly postponed, with the official citing the need for further investigation by his team before addressing the community.
For weeks, Harman has escalated the issue on behalf of the affected residents, but the delayed response and lack of transparency from JW have left many feeling abandoned. Jeanette Kloppers, a community representative, expressed her dismay at the postponement. “We were expecting some answers, but instead we’re left in the dark again. How much longer do we have to endure this before someone takes it seriously?”
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Residents have noted that while water flow slightly increases at night, it quickly vanishes by day, pointing to a possible systemic fault in the water distribution infrastructure. Despite JW’s acknowledgement of the issue, the lack of a concrete plan of action has angered locals. They are demanding immediate and comprehensive investigations by skilled professionals to identify and rectify the underlying problem.
Kloppers has been vocal about the need for an expert-led inquiry into the matter. “We’ve had weeks of escalations with no result,” she stated in a recent email, adding that the current state of affairs is unacceptable for paying customers. She expressed her disappointment with JW’s handling of the crisis and called for a more transparent and proactive approach to the issue.
Ronnie Mabophe, a JW representative, assured the community that a team would be sent out to investigate the problem. However, the community remains sceptical due to previous delays and the failure to provide clear answers or solutions. The consensus is that JW’s customer service, particularly its automated answering system, has been inadequate, contributing to the perception of unprofessionalism and neglect.
“We expect a certain level of service and integrity, which has not been met,” Kloppers emphasized in her email. She urged the utility to conduct an on-site investigation and provide a detailed explanation of the ongoing water supply issues.
In a response, Randhir Singh, another JW official, apologized for the inconvenience and confirmed that efforts were underway to troubleshoot the cause of the disruptions. However, without a firm commitment to resolve the situation, residents remain unconvinced that real progress will be made soon.
The community is now calling for more accountability and action from JW, demanding regular updates and a clear timeline for restoring the water supply. They have involved the media to ensure that the issue receives the attention it deserves. For the residents of President Ridge, the wait for clean and consistent water service has been long, and their patience is running thin.
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