Tembisa Shuts Down Streets As Daily Water And Power Cuts Push Residents To Breaking Point

Streets in Tembisa were covered in stones and burning tyres on Monday as frustrated residents took their anger to the roads, demanding immediate action from the City of Ekurhuleni. For many in the township, the recent wave of water shortages and electricity disconnections has turned everyday survival into a constant struggle.

Water Cuts That Hit Just Before Supper

In Ebony Park, the routine has become painfully predictable. Residents say water disappears around 5pm every day, right when families need to cook, clean and bathe.

Mbali Masilela, who lives in the area, said people are now forced to collect water in buckets to get through the night.

“It has been going on for some time and we still don’t know the reason. We cannot cook, we cannot flush toilets, and small businesses are losing money,” she said.

Car washes, food stalls and other informal businesses rely heavily on water. When the taps run dry, so do the incomes of young entrepreneurs trying to stay afloat in a township already battling high unemployment.

A Provincewide Battle With Water Supply

Tembisa is not alone. Several parts of Gauteng have been experiencing ongoing water disruptions linked to major system failures earlier this year. Between 27 January and 1 February, breakdowns at the Palmiet Pump Station and Zuikerbosch Pump Station, plus a pipe burst at the Klipfontein Reservoir, slashed water output across Rand Water’s network.

To stabilise supply, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina authorised an emergency draw from the Integrated Vaal River System. Although Rand Water’s production recovered to about five billion litres per day by 4 February, municipal reservoirs remained depleted. This meant higher-lying areas continued facing dry taps while lower-lying communities experienced fewer issues.

A heatwave in early February added even more pressure to the strained system.

Electricity Cuts Add More Frustration

Alongside water shortages, residents say widespread electricity disconnections have worsened the crisis. Pensioners and child-headed households are among those left in the dark, with many blaming changes to the city’s indigent support programme.

Some say municipal teams have been cutting power for indigent households without proper communication or verification, leaving elderly residents struggling alone.

“We only see the municipality when we protest. People who pay for electricity are getting cut off and elders are sitting without power,” one resident told the SABC.

Community Demands And A Call For Accountability

The Tembisa Community Forum has laid out clear demands for the City of Ekurhuleni. These include:

• Immediate reconnection of electricity for all qualifying indigent households

• A transparent, community-driven review of the indigent policy

• Cancellation of debts and notices issued to registered indigent residents

According to forum representatives, these changes are essential for rebuilding community trust and ensuring support systems actually work for low-income households.

City Responds With Promises Of A Policy Review

Acting mayoral spokesperson Ramatolo Tlotleng said Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza has acknowledged the concerns and committed to further engagement. This includes a full review of the indigent policy and possible scrapping of outstanding debt for verified indigent households.

Tlotleng stressed that while the city must encourage a culture of paying for services, it also has a responsibility to protect vulnerable communities.

“No qualifying indigent household should be deprived of basic services because of administrative shortcomings,” he said.

Roads Blocked As Tension Builds

The Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department confirmed that several roads in Tembisa were blocked with rocks and burning tyres. Public order police units and SAPS officers were deployed to manage the situation and keep residents safe.

With no immediate solutions in sight, residents say demonstrations will continue until water flows consistently and electricity is restored fairly.

For many in Tembisa, Monday’s protest was not just an act of defiance. It was a plea for dignity, communication and dependable service delivery in a community that has endured far too many crises.

{Source:IOL}

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