Protesting Fochville residents give municipality 25 hours to restore water supply

The Greater Fochville Water Crisis Committee has given the local municipality 25 hours to restore running water to the community on Johannesburg's West Rand.

Merafong Municipality Mayor Nozuko Best is meeting with frustrated residents of Kokosi at the assembly along the N12 highway.

Residents shut businesses, public transport, and only allowed grade 12 learners to attend classes on Tuesday morning, as they demonstrated over water shortages in their community.

ALSO READ: Fochville Water Crisis Committee slams police for firing rubber bullets at protesting residents

The water cuts are due to the municipality's R1.4 billion debt to Rand Water.

The committee's Ramafala Ramatshosa said they were further demanding the resignation of the executive mayor with immediate effect.

"Urgent demand for the restoration of water supply and accountable leadership in accordance with the National Water Act and water services."

Kokosi residents said they would continue protesting until the mayor addressed the prolonged water crisis that's seen their taps run dry for close to five weeks.

JC Joubert said they had to use 25 litre buckets to fetch water from the local river.

He said there aren't enough water trucks to supply the entire community.

"The water trucks only lately get there within an hour. [Within] two hours, the water trucks are empty and there's 300/400 people standing to get water, so where are we supposed to get water then?"

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