Anger and exhaustion were etched on the faces of Parktown West residents as they gathered on the corner of Jan Smuts Avenue and Seymour Road this morning, protesting against prolonged water cuts that have left households without running water for more than three weeks.

Clutching empty buckets and hand-painted placards, residents stood in solidarity, united by a shared sense of frustration and desperation. For many, the daily struggle to source water has become physically, emotionally and financially draining.

Read more: Repair of broken storm water drain in Lyndhurst continues to drag

“Dr Ferial Adam from JoburgCAN said the protest formed part of a broader, coordinated response to ongoing water outages across several suburbs. “We have been monitoring the water outages across Johannesburg, and there is a serious problem where the government continues to say there is no issue, despite what communities are experiencing on the ground,” she said.

“We worked closely with the Parktown West community, as well as residents in Melville and Emmarentia, to bring everyone together today. It may look like a coordinated protest, but the reality is that people are angry because we are not getting answers, even as JoburgCAN. Parktown West has been without water for about 20 days, Melville for around 24 to 25 days, yet there has been no proper communication or accountability from politicians. That is why people are protesting.”

According to residents, some homes in Parktown West have been without water for 22 consecutive days, a situation they describe as unprecedented. “In the past, the longest we would go without water was five to seven days. This time it has been unbearable,” said Hermain Geldenhuys, a resident.

Also read: City Power and Johannesburg Water to work together to solve Jan Smuts Avenue leak situation

@caxtonjoburgnorth Gilly Pirow a 92-year-old Parktown resident, shares her frustration over the water shortage and Parktown West residents come out in numbers to protest over the water shortage. The suburb has been without water for more than 22 days now. Video: Naziya Davids-Easthorpe #Rosebank #Parktown ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

She explained that the prolonged outage has placed enormous strain on families, particularly those with young children, elderly relatives and frail care needs. “It affects everything, from getting children ready for school and going to work, to basic hygiene and cooking. The mental and emotional pressure is immense.”

Residents also expressed deep dissatisfaction with the response from water authorities. While Rand Water is responsible for bulk supply, many residents said they are not direct customers and feel caught in a communication gap between different agencies. “We receive generic social media updates that don’t speak to what is happening in our area. There is no clear information, no timelines, and no accountability,” said Geldenhuys.

@caxtonjoburgnorth Peter Luckey is demanding answers from the city and venting his frustration after being without water for three weeks. Video: Naziya Davids-Easthorpe #Rosebank #Water ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

Protesters are now calling on the City of Johannesburg and the mayor’s office to intervene urgently and provide clear answers. They insist that they will continue to demonstrate daily until a lasting solution is found.
“This is about dignity,” resident Peter Luckey said, “Access to water is a basic human right. We can’t continue living like this.”

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!