'We had to burn tyres for water': Coronationville rages as Joburg mayor scrambles to fix crisis - seven years later

Furious Coronationville and Westbury residents say it took years of neglect and street protests to finally force Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero to act.

After more than seven years of water shortages, the city has now promised to send 15 tankers, a move many in the community slammed as too little and far too late.

For more than seven years, households in the area have endured severe water shortages.

This week, frustration boiled over as communities barricaded streets with burning tyres, rocks, and rubbish, demanding the city deliver reliable water.

Speaking at the Danie van Zyl Recreation Centre in Randburg on Thursday, Morero admitted the Commando System that supplies Coronationville is outdated and deteriorating. He said water levels across Johannesburg remain critically low.

“There are bigger challenges of water supply in this area. But what are the interventions that we must do? One is the four interventions that we are going to do in this area. Unfortunately, until we get the levels high, there's not much that can be done except interventions,” Morero said.

He announced that water from other areas would be redirected within two days to raise reservoir levels in Coronationville.

“We’re going to try and switch all other areas to try and get your levels higher so that the water can be supplied to the site,” he said.

“With all the interventions that we're going to be doing here, at least in the next seven days, you'll have a full supply of water.”

The mayor added that the city might cut supply to other areas at night to speed up relief.

But this admission sparked outrage inside the packed hall. Residents shouted back as Morero told them, “We are going to provide 15 water tankers immediately.”

Locals said the move was too little, too late.

“Why do we have to protest first to get the mayor to come here? We can’t have leaders who act only after we are protesting. We have the right to protest and have the right to water,” said resident Ebrahim Kruger, 50.

“Fifteen water tanks are very small. We’ve been suffering for years. We want real action. Now they tell us that the infrastructure is old, but they knew it was for the whole time, but did nothing,” he added.

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said, “If the city were competent and proactive, none of this would have happened. They knew the water systems were old and damaged. If they had fixed them before, we would not be here.”

Despite years of shortages, the city has taken limited steps to fix the crumbling water network. Morero conceded the failures.

“The reality is that the infrastructure, which is the water infrastructure in what they call a Commando System or something, has been badly affected and badly damaged,” he said.

He promised an integrated refurbishment strategy but gave no timelines.

“We have made that commitment. There are people who have not had water for over (a long time), so we want to resolve this by working together with you as communities,” Morero said.

The meeting collapsed in chaos as officials ordered the crowd to disperse to Coronationville Recreation Hall for further talks. Angry residents refused to leave, demanding immediate answers.

Police had to escort Morero and his delegation out as tensions reached breaking point.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

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