RATANDA, GAUTENG — The ongoing Ratanda water crisis has plunged the Lesedi Local Municipality into chaos, sparking violent service delivery protests, the tragic deaths of two residents, and the torching of the mayor’s residence. As frustration mounts over weeks of severe water shortages triggered by a massive debt dispute with Rand Water, urgent high-level talks involving Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina are underway to restore the throttled supply and quell the unrest.
The Root of the Ratanda Water Crisis
The severe water shortages in Ratanda, located southeast of Johannesburg, stem from a bitter financial dispute between the Lesedi Local Municipality and Rand Water. According to officials, the municipality owes a specific 27.7 million rand debt to the utility, having missed a 9 million rand surplus payment. However, community reports and earlier statements have cited broader municipal debts to Rand Water exceeding 200 million rand.
After the municipality failed to honor a debt settlement agreement, Rand Water took drastic measures. The utility throttled the water pressure to the area by 20%, leaving communities in extensions such as Extension 23, 26, and Opeting Go with dry taps for up to five weeks, and in some cases, residents claim up to six months.
Violent Unrest and Community Frustration
The prolonged lack of water has pushed residents to the brink, resulting in violent clashes with law enforcement. Two people lost their lives during the unrest—one on a Tuesday and another on a Thursday. Community activist Bayanda Radebe, who spoke from the ground, accused the police of using excessive force, including tear gas and rubber bullets, and alleged that live ammunition was used against civilians demonstrating on Vaaldam Road. Radebe emphasized that residents were simply fighting for their democratic right to access a basic human need.
The anger reached a boiling point when frustrated protesters torched the home of Lesedi Local Municipality Mayor Mluleki Nkosi. The mayor was forced to flee and is currently being housed elsewhere for security reasons.
Daily life has become a harrowing struggle. Despite paying monthly water bills ranging from R200 to R250, residents report waking up as early as 5:00 AM in freezing temperatures to queue at temporary boreholes, often waiting hours without success. Many have had to go to work without bathing or drinking tea. The economic toll is equally devastating, with local taxi associations suspending their operations in solidarity with the protesting community, leaving commuters stranded and workers facing threats of dismissal from their employers.
Emergency Talks and the Mayor’s Response
In an effort to salvage the situation, Mayor Mluleki Nkosi engaged in urgent virtual and in-person meetings with Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina, Rand Water officials, and the municipality’s Chief Financial Officer.
Speaking after the engagements, Mayor Nkosi explained that the municipality’s revenue collection has dropped below 70%, severely hampering their ability to pay the Rand Water debt. He revealed that he had written to the Minister of Finance, requesting an expedited payment of the equitable share from the National Treasury to clear the arrears, but had not yet received a response.
“Our priority is to get our pressure back so that our people can have water,” Nkosi stated, noting that the primary goal of the meeting with Minister Majodina was to request her indulgence to restore the water supply while she assists in pursuing the equitable share from the Treasury.
Addressing the violence, Mayor Nkosi expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the deceased. He categorically denied that any municipal officials were present during the clashes, explaining that he was in Johannesburg attending a Council of Mayors and Speakers meeting when the unrest began. He also strongly condemned the burning of his home, emphasizing that amicable avenues should be used to resolve disputes rather than resorting to violence.
Furthermore, the mayor clarified a rumor circulating in the community about a “six-month” timeline for water restoration. He explained that he was merely citing a past example where Rand Water had throttled water to Mafikeng for six months, and his words were misinterpreted by the community.
Infrastructure and Future Solutions
Looking toward a sustainable solution, Mayor Nkosi highlighted that the municipality is exploring all avenues to secure water. This includes utilizing existing boreholes and tapping into natural water resources in the Heidelberg area, such as an unused army gymnasium.
A major priority is a newly completed reservoir. Nkosi noted that before the throttling, negotiations were underway with Rand Water to increase pressure to fill this reservoir. Once filled, the reservoir could sustain the community for a month even if the main supply is disrupted, effectively making water shortages a thing of the past.
Ward committee member Chief Tshabalala echoed the community’s desperation, stating that residents are tired of empty promises and lies regarding the water supply. “We are still waiting for the outcome,” Tshabalala said, emphasizing that the protests will continue until water flows freely from the taps and the deaths of the two protesters are vindicated.
As the stakeholder meetings conclude, the residents of Ratanda remain in a state of anxious anticipation, hoping that the intervention of Minister Majodina will finally turn their taps back on and bring an end to the tragic unrest.
