Frustration is running high in Westbury and Coronationville. Community leaders from these Johannesburg suburbs are meeting with Joburg Water officials today to demand updates on ongoing solutions to their persistent water problems.
The meeting comes after recent street protests, where residents took to the roads to call for a permanent fix to the city’s water woes. Last month, the City of Johannesburg announced intervention measures, including the construction of a new pipeline from the nearby Crosby Reservoir, aimed at boosting water supply to these communities.
But for residents, the promises have yet to translate into consistent taps. Sainy van Zyl, a local resident, described life under the intermittent supply: “Sometime in the middle of the day it will go slow, but then late afternoon the water is on strong again, and during the night the water will go off again.”
Even though Joburg Water’s efforts have temporarily eased the crisis, the relief is inconsistent at best. Community leaders are now pressing for concrete timelines and assurances, as residents continue to endure water outages that disrupt daily life.
The new pipeline from Crosby Reservoir is expected to be completed this weekend, but whether it will finally bring reliable water to Westbury and Coronationville remains to be seen. For many residents, the question isn’t just about infrastructure—it’s about accountability, timely action, and the right to a basic necessity.
As police monitor ongoing protests and blockages in the area, the situation underscores a stark reality: Johannesburg’s water challenges are more than technical—they are a daily struggle for the people who rely on it most.