The chairperson of the Noordwyk Residents Association, Bonginkosi Nhlapo, has confirmed that the protest scheduled for December 22 at the water depot on 6th Road in Noordwyk has been officially called off, due to improvements in water supply across the area.

Nhlapo explained that the decision was made after community consultations indicated that residents were no longer facing widespread water shortages. “Yes, it is true [that a protest had been scheduled]. However, after surveying our communities, no residents reported a current lack of water. As a result, we have decided to call off the protest.”

Read more: Midrand water supply remains most affected after Rand Water maintenance

The protest was originally organised in response to an ongoing water crisis affecting Noordwyk and the greater Midrand area. Since December 13, following maintenance work by Rand Water, many households reported a complete loss of municipal water access, leaving taps dry for extended periods.

Nhlapo noted that although the situation has improved, some residents had previously experienced severe disruptions that affected their daily activities, sanitation, and overall well-being.

In response to the prolonged uncertainty and lack of clear communication, affected residents had planned a peaceful protest to draw urgent attention to the crisis and call on relevant authorities for immediate and sustainable solutions.

While conditions have since stabilised, the residents’ association plans to remain vigilant and will continue to monitor water supply issues in the area. They urge authorities to ensure consistent service delivery and improved communication during future maintenance periods.

Also read: Manufacturing a healthy future for water

On December 20, Johannesburg Water released a statement indicating that the Midrand supply system has largely recovered following Rand Water’s planned maintenance on the Palmiet system.

Despite this overall improvement, the entity is aware that some areas within the Erand reservoir supply zone continue to experience intermittent supply, low pressure, or a total lack of water, particularly in higher-lying areas.

Residents are assured that targeted operational interventions are underway to accelerate recovery and stabilise supply in these zones. “From an operational perspective, the Erand reservoir showed notable improvement overnight and is currently supplying at a reasonable level,” Johannesburg Water stated. “As a result, more areas are gradually beginning to receive water as the system rebalances. In support of this recovery, technical teams are actively bleeding the network to remove airlocks, which is a critical step in restoring effective flow and improving overall system stability.”

The entity noted that areas still affected by intermittent supply, low pressure, or no water, particularly in higher-lying zones, include Noordwyk, Halfway House, Carlswald, parts of Kyalami, and other surrounding high-lying areas. “Johannesburg Water will continue to closely monitor the system and will provide further updates as the Erand reservoir supply stabilises and recovery is completed.”

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