Residents of Phumulamqashi question the motive for the water cutoff

On Thursday, community leaders and the council committee met with the City of Johannesburg’s Environment and Infrastructure Department.

The meeting took place after Tuesday’s lockdown operation by Joburg Water, which sparked violent protests in Lenasia South.

Several shops were looted, parts of the Golden Highway barricaded and a case of public violence was opened at the Lenasia South police station after Johannesburg Metro police officers were attacked by the angry crowd.

Community leader Thabo Mabekenyane told Jacaranda FM News that the department apologized for the “premature” closure during the meeting.

“They started the operation because they thought we are a lawless community. They were not aware that we were in discussions with Joburg Water’s Ennerdale depot to remove the illegal connection,” Mabekenyane said.

Johannesburg Water announced last week that it would undertake an aggressive operation to address non-revenue water losses due to the limited water supply in the metro.

This comes after Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina announced on Monday that water restriction would be implemented in the metro from 9pm to 4am from Thursday.

“We came to the conclusion that the department would provide the community with water tankers,” Mabekenyane said.

Meanwhile, ward councilor Puseletso Nzimanda explained that water tankers and communal taps are funded by taxpayers, and the City of Johannesburg currently does not have the resources for these facilities.

“Our next meeting with the community will be with the Ministry of Housing as it is the manager of all informal settlements,” Nzimande said.

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