Vischkuil residents are calling for accountability following a prolonged water outage that left the community without running water for nearly two weeks.

The water crisis began on June 21, with the water supply slowly returning on July 4.

Residents say they received little communication about the cause of the outage and fear they could face another interruption in the coming weeks.

One of the residents, Mandy Smith, said residents were given conflicting explanations during the crisis, including claims that a valve had broken, before they were allegedly informed that the interruption was linked to non-payment to Rand Water.

“We did not even know the truth until people went to check themselves and found that the reservoir was empty,” Smith said.

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She acknowledged that water tankers were deployed to assist residents but said there was little communication or additional support throughout the outage.

Smith also expressed concern over reports that Rand Water would reassess the situation in two weeks, raising fears that residents could once again be left without water.

“Our concern is why we are paying Lesedi Municipality if Rand Water is not being paid,” she said.
Another resident, Chevon Herridge, said the water outage had a significant impact on the community’s daily lives.

“Families have struggled to cook, clean, bathe and maintain basic hygiene. Parents have had to find ways to care for their children without running water, while elderly residents and those with medical conditions have faced even greater hardship.

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“The emotional and financial toll was unbearable. We feel abandoned, ignored and forgotten. We continue to pay for services, yet we are left without one of the most basic necessities for life,” Herridge said.

Residents are now calling for transparency from the municipality and regular communication during service delivery interruptions.

“What makes this situation even more frustrating is the lack of clear communication and urgency from those responsible. Residents deserve honest updates and a reliable plan to restore this essential service.

“We urge the relevant authorities to treat this crisis with the seriousness it deserves and provide immediate action and transparent communication. Our community has waited long enough,” Herridge said.

This publication sent an enquiry to Lesedi Local Municipality, which yielded no response by the time of publication.