Elderly residents in Coronationville and Westbury join water protest

Johannesburg
DL

Dimakatso Leshoro

24 February 2026 | 11:21

They say water is at times only available in the early hours of the morning, making it difficult to wash, clean their homes, and take medication on time.

Elderly residents in Coronationville and Westbury join water protest

Police and metro cops have been deployed to Coronationville where residents have blocked roads over lack of water. Picture: Ntokozo Khumalo/EWN

Some elderly residents in Coronationville and Westbury have joined the protest over the ongoing water crisis, which they say is placing their health at risk.

They said water is at times only available in the early hours of the morning, making it difficult to wash, clean their homes, and take medication on time.

The area has seen several protests in 2025, with residents saying little has changed.

Months later, many are still relying on water tankers for their daily supply.

Residents have blocked a major road in the area since Monday morning due to a lack of water.

77-year-old Julie Farmer, who lives in an age-old home, is helping to care for other pensioners, says life without water is unbearable

“I’m a cancer patient. I’ve got to have water every day. The other elderly people need to take their tablets. I must see to them also to take their tablets [medicine]. Where is the water?”

She said the water supply often returns around 1 in the morning and stops by 4 am.

“One o’clock at night, we must get up to do washing, to flush the toilet. I get up, fill my buckets, scrub my floors quickly because by four o’clock it’s gone again. Every day.”

Farmer said she no longer believes any of the promises being made to resolve the water situation.

He must stop talking on TV and come to us. Come to the community. We want them here to face us. We are elderly. We need water to take our tablets to bath, to live with dignity.”

She said residents have endured an inconsistent water supply for a long time.


ALSO READ: Gauteng water crisis: Coronationville, Westbury residents protest outages

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