WATCH: Residents protesting over thirst for water ‘shot’ in Elandspark
Tensions escalated as law enforcement fired what seemed to be rubber bullets at demonstrators, with reports of residents sustaining gunshot wounds.
After enduring an eight-day water crisis, residents in Ward 56 and 57 took to the streets this morning to express their frustrations, barricading roads with rocks and burning tyres.
The protest highlights ongoing issues related to the recurring and prolonged water shortages, as well as the informal settlements in the Elandspark area.
A video circulating on social media from the protests shows law enforcement firing what appears to be rubber bullets at the demonstrators, causing protesters to flee in panic.
It is alleged that some residents sustained gunshot wounds during the incident.
WATCH: Residents protesting over thirst for water 'shot' in Elandspark pic.twitter.com/No2HZwdODR
— Southern Courier SA (@courier_sa) October 11, 2024
Others took to the Moffat View Crime Reports community group on Facebook to share claims of injuries from the clashes. One user reported being shot during the protest earlier this morning.
It is believed that protesters are moving the demonstration to the Rand Water offices at the corner of Impala Road and Kliprivier Road. Motorists are advised to avoid the area.
Councillors Michael Crichton (Ward 56) and Faeeza Chame (Ward 57) expressed their concerns, stating that despite their repeated appeals, Joburg Water and Rand Water have remained unresponsive to the community’s struggles.
The councillors said the severe hardships residents are facing, including school closures, elderly individuals struggling to transport heavy water buckets, and overflowing toilets due to a lack of sufficient water truck deliveries.
“Clinics have been forced to close due to the water shortage, and many families cannot afford to purchase water. Moreover, the water being distributed is often unclean. Residents have gone days without proper baths or showers,” they stated.
