Protestors vow to continue the fight for water in Joburg

Hundreds of water protestors from civil society organisations, trade unions and residents’ associations have vowed to continue their quest to receive an adequate water supply from the City of Johannesburg.

“This is not the end (of the water protest), just the beginning. We will not allow the mayor to divide us. We expected answers to our demands today, but there has been no response,” said Dr Ferrial Adam, one of the protest organisers.

Residents from Orange Farm to Kelvin and Kensington to Ivory Park converged at the council chambers in Braamfontein to hear Mayor Dada Moreno’s response to a memorandum of demands handed to him two weeks ago.

However, many were left frustrated and angry at what they said was Morero’s non-response to the demands within the memorandum. Instead, the mayor told the protest gathering that he will meet with the leadership of the protest to discuss issues.

Adam said it was disappointing that Morero did not give a response to their demands, even though he has been in possession of them for two weeks.

“We have gathered here because the issue of water has affected every single person in Joburg. We are tired of living with a dysfunctional government that blames everything on everyone instead of just fixing the issues.

“Our taps are running dry. We are not just speaking about water; we are also speaking about power and how it is being used or misused in Joburg. Ward councillors no longer have real power; decisions are no longer being made by those we elect but by unelected, overpaid boards, committees and now the bomb squad. We, as the people, are constantly being shut out,” she said.

Some of the demands to the mayor include:

• Transparent appointment processes and term limits to prevent political interference and entrenchment. The inclusion of representatives from key stakeholder groups – including civil society, labour unions, business, technical experts, and community organisations – on Johannesburg Water’s Board.

• Skills and integrity assessments to ensure that board members have the requisite expertise in water management, finance, engineering, and governance before they are appointed.

• Regular public reports provided by the board on performance, spending, and service delivery outcomes.

• A clear plan and timeline from Johannesburg Water to phase out reliance on tanker supply. The immediate publication of all water tanker contracts, including the cost per tanker per day. A transparent accounting of the total expenditure on tanker services over the past three years. A programme for the installation of piped water to be budgeted for and scheduled in low-income areas and informal settlements.

Morero did not say much except to promise to respond to the protester’s demands in due course. This is despite him being in possession of the said demands for at least two weeks.

“Civil society has a responsibility to keep the government in line, and what you have done today is a revolutionary act,” said Morero. - By Yvonne Grimbeek

• This story is produced by Our City News, a non-profit newsroom that serves the people of Johannesburg.