'We are asking for a basic human right’: Coronationville residents protest water shortages

In a desperate cry for a basic human right, Coronationville residents, both young and old, have taken to the streets to protest ongoing water shortages, demanding urgent government intervention.

Frustrated by years of unreliable water supply, the community is calling on authorities to address the crisis and ensure access to clean, safe water for every household.

Julie Fahmay said she was almost struck by a rubber bullet. 

“I’m an elderly woman; one rubber bullet missed me.” 

She questioned why police were targeting peaceful demonstrators instead of drug dealers.

The Coronationville community has been protesting for weeks over a water shortage that residents say has lasted more than seven years. 

Residents are demanding access to a reliable water supply from the City of Johannesburg’s water utility, Joburg Water.

Streets in the area have been barricaded with burning tyres, stones, and garbage. 

A heavy police presence, including Inyalas and metro police, greeted anyone entering the community on Thursday.

While recent demonstrations had remained peaceful, tensions escalated this week when some protesters threw stones at police. 

Officers responded by firing rubber bullets at the crowd.

Fahmay, who had gone to a local Muslim church to collect water, expressed frustration and fear.

“I came here with two water bottles. I’ve got no water in my house,” she told IOL News.

She questioned the city's priorities and the treatment of elderly residents.

“What is the government thinking about us as the elderly? We have no water. They’re thinking nothing about us. We are not dogs. Police are shooting at us.”

“Police are shooting at us because we are demonstrating for water. Why? I am elderly, and one rubber bullet missed me. So where must I go?

“Why are they here for us? Why don’t they go to the bloody drug dealers and shoot them out? We are peacefully demonstrating for water.”

On Thursday, dozens of residents gathered outside the church, which offered free water from a borehole to the community. Many held plastic water bottles and buckets.

ActionSA PR councillor and resident Paul Nefdt, 49, said Joburg Water had failed to take accountability.

“There’s no accountability for this crisis. We are suffering as residents. This water crisis has been ongoing for years, yet there’s nothing happening,” he said.

Sallie Evans, a 52-year-old resident, said he had to walk an hour to fetch water from the local Muslim church near Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital.

“I had to walk 30 minutes to the church to get water and another 30 minutes to get home. We are really suffering,” he said.

Jacobi Caren, another resident, said frustration was mounting and demanded answers from Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero.

“Apparently the mayor will be coming to see us. We would like to see what he has to say. People want answers, and we are very upset - this has been ongoing for more than seven years.”

“For the past two years, it has escalated, and now for the past seven months, we haven’t had any water in our yards.”

Mayor Morero, along with the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Jack Sekwaila, and Joburg Water Managing Director Ntshavheni Mukwevho, is expected to hold a media briefing this afternoon to address the ongoing water crisis.

The briefing will be held at the Danie van Zyl Recreation Centre in Newlands, Randburg.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Joburg Water said the Commando System, which supplies Coronationville, is under strain.

“The Commando System is constrained due to a combination of higher demand, limited supply, and infrastructure limitations,” the utility said.

“Johannesburg Water is closely monitoring the system and implementing all necessary interventions to ensure optimal water distribution.”

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL News