Hursthill 2 hits a wall as unpaid contractors down tools in protest
Contractors and workers behind the Hursthill 2 reservoir project took their frustrations to Johannesburg Water's offices demanding payment after alleging they have gone unpaid for more than three months.
Workers of Mapitsi Civil Works linked to the Hursthill 2 reservoir project protested outside the Johannesburg Water (JW) offices on August 7, demanding that they settle outstanding payments which they claim have brought construction to a standstill.
Ward councillor Kyle Jacobs said he was informed that community liaison officers and workers would lead the demonstration after the contractor allegedly went unpaid for more than three months and was forced to abandon the site.
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According to Jacobs, the prolonged payment delays have left workers without income, while halting a key water infrastructure project intended to improve supply resilience in western Johannesburg.
He said Hursthill 2 was due for completion in April this year and would have added much-needed reserve water capacity to the city’s network, helping to lessen the impact of maintenance and water supply disruptions.
Jacobs argued that repeated payment delays on critical infrastructure projects continue to undermine service delivery, saying contractors cannot be expected to keep projects running indefinitely without payment
Worker Welcome Nondonga stated that it has become hard for him, as a breadwinner, to pay for taxes and rent, putting a financial strain on him.
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“We don’t want to fight, we do not have energy, we just want our money. We are not begging for it, we want it.”
The protesting workers called for outstanding invoices to be settled and for construction on the Hursthill 2 reservoir project to resume as a matter of urgency.
@caxtonjoburgnorth Workers protest outside of the Johannesburg Water offices at Turbine Hall over alleged non-payment on August 7, 2026 in Newtown. Video: Waydon Jacobs #viral #Johannesburg #March #BreakingNews ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
JW representatives stated that they wanted to have a closed-door meeting, to which the workers refused.
The publication sent JW a media query with a deadline of 14:00 today. Their response will be updated once received.
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