Hundreds of West Rand residents block busy highways over water cuts
Households in Kokosi, Fochville say they’ve been forced to rely on dirty water sources during the outage
Community members from Kokosi in Fochville on Joburg’s West Rand on Tuesday protested because their taps have been dry for over a month. Photos: Silver Sibiya
Chaos erupted in the streets of Kokosi, Fochville, on Tuesday as hundreds of people protested for their water to be restored.
Earlier this week, GroundUp reported that taps in the West Rand community have been dry for over a month. Some people at the protest said they have not had a consistent water supply for between three and six months. The crisis in Kokosi and other surrounding areas stems from the Merafong Local Municipality’s R1.4-billion debt to Rand Water.
Since last year, Rand Water has been implementing water cuts as a debt collection mechanism.
On Tuesday, protesters blocked the busy N12 and R500 highways. Police attempted to disperse the crowds by firing teargas and rubber bullets, but the R500 remained closed for most of the day with burning tyres.
Protesters say they were tired of their pleas for help being ignored. Several people we spoke to complained that the municipality’s failures have forced families to fetch water from burst pipes, boil contaminated water, or go without bathing for days.
Hundreds of residents blocked the N12 and R500 highways early on Tuesday morning.
“It is a matter of life, death, and dignity,” said community leader Ramafala Ramatshosa. “When you don’t have water, your health is compromised. The municipality has stripped us of our basic rights.”
Resident Gabriel Mandawe said, “I stopped going to church because I could not bathe. This is no way to live.” Mandawe, who works at Fochville Secondary School, said the toilets are a mess because there is no running water.
Another resident, Koos Fourie, said residents have been forced to survive on dirty water from fire hydrants. “We try to boil it and add jik, but not everyone can afford that. We just hope this protest brings change.”
He worries that without water, people in the area could experience health problems if the situation continues.
A memorandum was handed to Merafong Mayor Nozuko Best, but she left without addressing protesters or the media. The community demanded that water be restored by Thursday.
Merafong spokesperson Thabo Moloja blamed unpaid rates bills for the problem, including unpaid debt from mines. He said this meant the municipality could not keep up with Rand Water’s R39-million monthly charge.
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Letters
Dear Editor
The images and stories coming out of Kokosi and Fochville are heartbreaking – and they should disturb every South African who believes in basic human dignity. Families have gone without running water for months. Children drink from burst pipes. Parents are forced to choose between unsafe water and no water at all. This is not just inconvenience – it is an assault on life itself.
The protests on the N12 and R500 are a loud, visible reminder: when government systems fail, communities take action. Burning tyres and blocked highways are cries for survival, not chaos. Yet, even when residents presented a memorandum to the mayor, they were met with silence. Silence in the face of suffering is unacceptable.
We cannot allow unpaid municipal debts or bureaucratic inefficiencies to rob people of their basic rights. Immediate action is needed: restore water now, implement transparent financial management, and hold those responsible accountable. Civil society, journalists, and everyday South Africans must amplify these voices until water flows freely again.
The people of West Rand deserve more than promises – they deserve dignity, respect, and water. GroundUp, thank you for shining a light on their struggle. May this coverage spark urgent action.
Dear Editor
The ANC, especially Cyril Ramaphosa, should hang their heads in utter shame at their absolute failure to provide safe clean drinking water, housing and refuse removal services for the citizens to municipalities, where their incompetent ANC cadres have been deployed! Water and sanitation are a right as per our Constitution.
For too long, South Africa has suffered the corruption, incompetence and arrogance of the ANC. They have betrayed the legacy of Nelson Mandela. They are no longer worthy, at all, to be the leaders of our country. Their unashamed greed for wealth, power and control has brought Mzansi to its knees.
No political party can ever be greater than the citizens who empower them to rule in accordance with our laws and only in the best interest of its citizens! This is not negotiable! The ANC must step back and lick their wounds in the dark. Shame, shame, shame on them all!
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