Johannesburg Residents Mobilise as Water Crisis Boils Over

Civil society prepares for mass protest as frustrations reach breaking point

Johannesburg is no stranger to protest, but this time, the call isn’t about politics or electricity it’s about water, the one thing no one can live without.

A coalition of activists, community groups and worried residents is gearing up for a peaceful protest on 1 November outside the Johannesburg City Council building in Braamfontein. Their message is blunt: Johannesburg’s water system is on the brink, and leaders can no longer look away.

Dr Ferrial Adam, spokesperson for the Water Forum, says the city’s residents have been patient for too long.

“As water activists, we cannot remain silent any longer.”

A City Running Dry and Out of Time

Johannesburg isn’t just another municipality. It’s the country’s economic heartbeat, home to millions and the centre of commerce. But beneath the skyline and glass towers, the pipes are old, the reservoirs are neglected, and communities are scrambling to fill buckets and JoJo tanks.

Years of mismanagement, budget diversions, poor maintenance and corruption have caught up with the city. Service delivery has buckled across the board electricity, waste, roads but the collapse of the water system is now felt in kitchens, classrooms and clinics.

Adam warns that this is no longer a temporary inconvenience:

“Johannesburg has reached a breaking point. The water infrastructure is deteriorating, and ineffective leadership is making things worse. Broken systems and underinvestment have left residents desperate for solutions.”

Who’s Standing Up?

The Water Forum isn’t alone. A wide coalition is backing the call for action, including:

• Abahlali Freedom Park & Abahlali Base Zola

• Ahmed Kathrada Foundation

• CADE & Climate Justice Coalition

• JhbCAN & Joburg Crisis Alliance

• Professionals and Business for Change

• WaterCAN, the Water Crisis Committee

• Xtinction Rebellion

These aren’t just NGOs or activists shouting from the sidelines they’re school governing bodies, township organisers, faith leaders, resident groups and professionals. Their voices cut across class lines: Sandton boreholes and Soweto buckets are now part of the same conversation.

What Civil Society Wants And Why It Matters

Their demands aren’t vague slogans. They want the city to fix what’s broken and stop making it worse. Here’s what they’re calling for:

1. Protect Water Budgets from Diversion

Funds allocated to water and sanitation must be ringfenced exclusively for repairs, upgrades and maintenance.

2. Restore the Full Budget to Johannesburg Water

Allocations should not be sliced down through internal cuts or political re-routing.

3. Return the Missing R4 Billion

Activists allege the city diverted billions from Joburg Water, money meant for essential infrastructure.

4. Build and Fix Reservoirs as Promised

Work on six delayed reservoirs (HH2, Modder Hill, Meadowlands, Aeroton, Dunkeld, Crown Gardens) was scheduled for July 2025. It never happened. Five more Yeoville, Jabulani, Power Park, Lenasia and Alexander Park were supposed to start this October. Activists want timelines, progress reports and public accountability.

5. Faster Response Times

Johannesburg Water committed to turning around major incidents within 24 hours. It’s still sitting at 48 hours or more sometimes days.

“Every day without water is a day without dignity,” Adam says.

6. An Oversight Structure with Real Power

Residents, civil society and business want a seat at the table, not a press release after the fact.

Protest Details

• Date: Saturday, 1 November

• Time: From 10am

• Venue: Johannesburg City Council Building, Civic Boulevard, Braamfontein

Organisers stress this will be a peaceful demonstration focused on transparency, accountability and the right to water.

Public Mood: Enough Is Enough

On social media, Joburg residents are sharing videos of dry taps, leaking pipes and hours-long queues at water trucks. From Eldorado Park to Midrand, the frustration is universal.

Some accuse the city of acting only when wealthy suburbs are affected. Others say the crisis mirrors the collapse in eThekwini and Gqeberha, warning Gauteng could follow the same path if nothing changes.

Why This Moment Feels Different

South Africans protest all the time, but the tone here isn’t opportunistic. It’s survival. For many, the crisis has turned from an inconvenience into a threat to health, safety and livelihoods.

Unlike power cuts, there is no alternative to water. You can’t stockpile it for weeks. You can’t freelance a solution when a 50-year-old pipe bursts.

Residents aren’t just asking for help, they’re demanding structural change.

As Adam puts it:

“This protest is not about noise. It’s about dignity, accountability and the future of this city.”

Johannesburg can’t afford to treat this as another service delivery complaint. The taps are telling a story and the city’s residents are done whispering.

{Source: IOL}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com