Frustration and anger are boiling over in the Johannesburg suburb of Westbury, where residents have taken to the streets, vowing to continue protests until government authorities resolve a severe water crisis that has left the community without a reliable supply for several months, and completely dry for days at a time.
The protests, which began on Tuesday night, saw residents voice their desperation over conditions they describe as “sickening” and “terrible.” The community has pledged to maintain their demonstration until a permanent solution is provided.
Local reporter Calvin Lula, on the ground in Westbury, captured the raw emotion of the event. One resident, who cared for the elderly, explained the dire situation in heartbreaking detail. Holding a sign that read, “We protest today for a better tomorrow,” she described the immense challenges of providing basic care without water.
“Okay, so we’ve been a couple of months without water,” the resident stated. “I care for the elderly and every time going in to go and care for an elderly person, there is no water. So to wash them, [give them] their medication, all those things, it’s a problem… It is terrible. So, this is why we’re protesting today.”
The personal toll on families is severe. The same resident revealed her own struggles, citing a sick son at home who needs medication and the inability to perform basic hygiene. “Personally, we can’t flush our toilets… Our clothing’s not been washed. It’s just it’s sickening. It’s sickening,” she said.
When asked what she would like to see happen, her plea was simple and direct: “We would like our water back. Please, we would like our water back.”
The situation has grown so desperate that residents warn of escalating unrest if their demands are not met. “Oh, there’s going to be problems. There’s going to be fighting. There’s going to be more protests. It’s just bad. It’s going to be bad,” the resident warned.
Some residents reported a brief restoration of service the previous night, which only added to their frustration. They described a frantic scramble to bathe, flush toilets, and fill buckets during a single hour of running water before the supply was cut off again.
The protest has significantly disrupted daily life. According to reports from the scene, many children did not attend school, and those who did were sent home early due to the ongoing crisis.
There is a glimmer of hope for a resolution, as the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) is expected to address the community. However, for the residents of Westbury, promises are no longer enough. They are demanding immediate and decisive action to restore the most essential of services: clean, running water.
