Tensions flared again in Westbury on Thursday as frustrated residents continued to protest the area’s ongoing water outage.
Story Summary:
- Protests in Westbury intensified on Thursday after a no-show by the ward councillor at a community meeting regarding water outages.
- Johannesburg communities are grappling with prolonged water shortages, sparking unrest and road blockages.
- Rand Water has warned that water storage levels are critically low, partly due to excessive municipal consumption.
Westbury protests: Councillor reportedly pulls out of community meeting
The situation worsened when Ward Councillor Genevieve Sherman, who had been scheduled to meet with the community at 10:30, failed to show up.
This further fuelled frustration, as community members had been eager to discuss the prolonged water shortage affecting their area and neighbouring suburbs.
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has been deployed to the scene since the protests began on Wednesday.
According to JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla, residents blocked roads with burning tyres and debris, particularly at the intersection of Perth Road and Harmony Street, affecting traffic between Westdene, Brixton, Coronationville, and Westbury near Helen Joseph Hospital.
Despite the road closures, the protests remained relatively calm under police supervision.
Residents have been without water for several days, a crisis that has affected multiple communities, including Tembisa and parts of Johannesburg, where service delivery protests have erupted.
Motorists have been advised to avoid the area, with alternative routes recommended through 4th Avenue, Thornton Road, and Price Street in neighbouring suburbs.
Why are Westbury residents protesting?
The current protests stem from water shortages that have plagued the Johannesburg area, specifically Westbury, Coronationville, and Westdene.
Residents have expressed growing anger over the inconsistent water supply and lack of communication from the municipality.
Prolonged outages have left households without water for essential needs, and in some cases, families have been without water for more than a week.
The situation in Johannesburg worsened after Rand Water, the bulk water supplier, announced critically low water levels in Gauteng reservoirs.
The water utility has repeatedly warned municipalities about excessive water withdrawals and the urgent need for water conservation and demand management.
Rand Water issued a stark warning earlier in October, stating:
“The water supply systems in Gauteng, including Rand Water reservoirs, are critically low, and the situation is anticipated to worsen with the ongoing heat wave.”
According to the utility, municipal consumption and physical losses due to leaks and illegal connections have exacerbated the problem.
Rand Water made it clear that it is operating at full capacity and that the crisis can only be addressed if municipalities take immediate action to repair infrastructure, enforce by-laws, and curb water wastage.
The unrest in Westbury is likely to continue unless municipal authorities and representatives engage meaningfully with the community.
The absence of the ward councillor at the scheduled meeting has only intensified feelings of abandonment and frustration.
Motorists are urged to remain cautious when travelling through affected parts of the city, as road closures may persist as the protests continue.
