RATANDA, HEIDELBERG, GAUTENG — The ongoing Ratanda water protests have turned deadly and highly volatile, resulting in two deaths and the torching of the local mayor’s house as frustrated community members in Heidelberg continue to demand an immediate end to weeks of dry taps.
The unrest, now in its third day, turned fatal on Wednesday when Katlego Mokwena was shot multiple times during a clash with police. Medical professionals confirmed he was shot five times in the scrotum with rubber bullets, which ultimately led to his passing in the hospital. A second protester succumbed to their injuries on Thursday morning. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has launched an investigation into the deaths. While police maintained they used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds, angry residents accused law enforcement of using live ammunition. Protesters also noted a heavy police presence, including multiple Nyala vehicles, and questioned why officers appeared to exercise restraint and refrain from firing only when media cameras were present.
At the heart of the crisis is a severe water shortage that residents say has lasted for up to five weeks. Locals highlighted the severe humanitarian impact of the crisis, noting that elderly women are unable to take their daily medication without access to water. Rand Water has restricted the bulk water supply to the Lesedi Local Municipality, citing an outstanding debt of over R20 million (with figures also cited as R25 million and R27 million in various discussions). According to Rand Water, the municipality is required to pay a portion of its equitable share from the national treasury—approximately R8.9 million to R9 million—alongside the current arrears. However, Rand Water has indicated that due to its own financial constraints and massive debts owed by various municipalities, it cannot budge on its demand for payment.
Lesedi Local Municipality Mayor Mluleki Nkosi and Municipal Manager S’busiso Dlamini have painted a picture of a municipality in severe financial distress. Mayor Nkosi explained that revenue collection has plummeted since the British American Tobacco factory closed in the region. This economic blow has resulted in a high number of indigent residents who rely on the state’s free basic services, which include 6 kiloliters of water and 50 kilowatts of electricity per month. Municipal Manager Dlamini added that while the municipality’s current accounts are settled monthly, the challenge lies in massive historical debt. Dlamini revealed that residents and businesses owe the municipality close to R2 billion, and the municipality itself owes Eskom over R100 million, making cash flow incredibly difficult, especially during winter when electricity costs nearly double.
However, the residents strongly dispute the Mayor’s assertion that they are not paying for their services. Locals claim they have proof of payment, but they are plagued by a dysfunctional billing system. One resident reported being handed a questionable bill for R108,000 despite being unemployed and experiencing frequent electricity outages. Residents allege that the municipality frequently blocks their electricity meters, forcing them to travel to municipal offices to pay in person just to have their services restored. Furthermore, while the municipality has deployed water tankers as a contingency measure, residents have outright rejected them, claiming the water supplied is dirty. Municipal Manager Dlamini dismissed these claims, stating that the tanker water is the exact same supply used in municipal offices.
Tensions reached a boiling point on Friday afternoon when Mayor Nkosi addressed the community, appealing for calm and urging residents to clear the barricaded roads—specifically Vaaldam Road—so that the water tankers could enter. The community responded with hostility, rejecting the tankers and demanding water directly from their taps. Following a 45-minute police warning to disperse, the situation escalated into running battles. Amidst the chaos, Mayor Nkosi’s old residence (he no longer resides there) was set alight and torched. No injuries were reported from the fire, as the house was unoccupied at the time.
The Ratanda water protests are about much more than just dry taps; residents say they are the culmination of years of neglect. The community is also grappling with severe electricity challenges, high youth unemployment, and crime. These issues were previously raised in early May during a community meeting with the Gauteng Premier and other stakeholders, but residents feel those promises went unfulfilled. In response to the current deadly impasse, the Gauteng Premier, the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mayor Nkosi, and other key stakeholders are scheduled to hold urgent meetings to find a lasting resolution to the crisis. Until then, the streets of Ratanda remain barricaded and tense as the community waits for tangible results.
