Government Urges Calm as Westbury Erupts Over Water Shortages

Johannesburg communities of Westbury and Coronationville were brought to boiling point this week when water outages triggered volatile protests. Roads were barricaded with burning tyres and rocks as residents demanded relief.

What sparked the anger

Residents say they’ve endured prolonged water cuts, with high-lying neighbourhoods hit hardest. Joburg Water confirmed that three key reservoirsHursthill, Brixton, and Crosbystruggle to supply the area. One, Hursthill, is reportedly empty.

The city has also pointed to broader challenges: ageing infrastructure and strained supply lines unable to keep up with demand.

Government response and promises

Deputy government spokesperson William Baloyi acknowledged the urgency of the situation. He said the city has several medium- to long-term fixes in motion, including completing the new Brixton reservoir and tower by end of October 2025.

Meanwhile, the government asks residents to allow workers to carry out repairs without obstruction. Baloyi emphasized that while protest is a constitutional right, destructive behaviour only delays solutions.

Interventions underway

• Jo’burg Water is instituting interim measures to stabilise supply.

• Water demand is being managed via system restrictions and infrastructure tweaks.

• The government has called for calm, urging protests to remain peaceful so that restoration work can continue.

Community stakes

For many in Westbury and Coronationville, water isn’t just a utilityit’s essential for life. Without reliable supply, people face daily hardships: hygiene issues, disruptions in cooking and cleaning, and stress over health risks.

Social media posts from the area reflect this: residents post images of empty taps, buckets, and long queues waiting for water trucks. Frustration is high.

Why it’s about more than water

This isn’t the first time Johannesburg has hit by recurring service delivery failures. But for many locals, Westbury is a case study in what happens when infrastructure doesn’t keep pace with urban growth.

Promises of new reservoirs and system upgrades may helpbut only if implemented rapidly and transparently. For residents whose taps have run dry repeatedly, trust is eroding.

{Source: TheCitizen}

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