Streets in Fochville blocked by residents protesting water cuts

Streets in Fochville on Johannesburg's West Rand have been blocked with rocks and burning tyres by residents who are protesting over water cuts.

They said households have been without supply for more than a month and Tuesday's protest is to call for the City of Johannesburg to quickly respond to the crisis.

The issue was sparked by the Merafong Municipality's R1.4 billion debt to Rand Water, which has resulted in 40% cuts in bulk water supply in some areas.

The Fochville Water Crisis Committee said Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero admitted during a recent meeting that the municipality had signed an agreement with the entity, but it has since failed to honour it.

"We have then engaged the premier's office. Through the premier's office, because of the intergovernmental working relationship with their own municipalities, they had invited Merafong Municipality to our meeting. The executive mayor put it purely in that meeting that they've signed an agreement with Rand Water that they were not able to honour,” said the committee's Mxolisi Biko.