Johannesburg Water was forced to suspend their illegal water disconnection operation in Phumula Mqashi, Lenasia South, outside Soweto, after community members retaliated and stoned police cars and looted shops. Johannesburg Water announced last week that it would embark on an operation to curb non-revenue water losses as the city faces water shortages.

MET WITH VIOLENCE 

Johannesburg Metro Police spokesperson Xolani Fihla said the violent protests led to the closure of the Golden Highway between Wimbledon and Sheffield streets. "Residents had barricaded the roads in response to an illegal water connection operation conducted by Johannesburg.

Vehicles and a security car were pelted with stones and police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd and halt the operation," Fihla said.

This morning, Joburg Water was joined by the JMPD in a planned operation to disconnect illegal connections in Phumla Mqashi in Lenasia. This is to address unauthorised connections to the city's water network, which are also a major contributor to water losses. #JoburgUpdates ^N pic.twitter.com/ZJy9yMTh4R

— Johannesburg Water (@JHBWater) November 12, 2024

OPERATION HALTED

In a statement, Joburg Water spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala confirmed that the entity halted illegal connection operations as residents retaliated. "Johannesburg Water had to call off a planned disconnections operation shortly after it began this morning in Phumla Mqashi informal settlement, in Lenasia South. This operation was part of the entity's ongoing efforts to address the substantial challenges posed by unauthorised connections to the city's water network, which are also a major contributor to water losses and escalating the non-revenue water," Shabalala said.

She added that though they were accompanied by JMPD officials, community members mobilised and blocked off the two main entrances into the area. The disconnections were taking place and they threw rocks at their officials and metro cops. "Johannesburg Water's Operations team will discuss a way forward regarding implementing disconnections following the incident, as well as restoring water tank services in the area to assist in maintaining basic services for the community," she said.

THEY HAVE BEEN ILLEGAL CONNECTED FOR SEVEN YEARS

Shabalala also said that there was no formal water infrastructure in the squatter camp. "There used to be water tanks but because of the ongoing land invasions and subsequent illegal water connections, these tanks were vandalised, leading to increased strain on the local water supply network," she said. A community member, Nonkululelo Khoza, said they've occupied the informal settlement since 2016 and said they've never had any water or electricity. "We've been illegally connected since 2017 because nobody cares about us. We have children to take care of and cook for. They have to eat and bathe and go to school to write their exams; how is that going to happen without water? They must give taps, then we'll pay for water," Khoza said.