Authorities accused some residents of using illegal connections to access water.

Residents of Lenasia, located south of Johannesburg, engaged in a tense standoff with the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) on Tuesday as officers attempted to disconnect illegal water connections. The confrontation underscores the community’s ongoing struggle with severe water shortages, which authorities claim has led some residents to resort to illegal methods to access water.

As officials moved in to address these unauthorized connections, the situation quickly escalated. Frustrated residents responded by blocking roads, including a significant portion of the Golden Highway, in an attempt to prevent further disconnections. During the protests, four vehicles sustained damage.

Community leader Fanelwa Mooi voiced her concerns over the absence of viable water solutions provided by local authorities. "Even now, there is no water. They haven't even brought us JoJo tanks or water trucks. All the taps are dry; there is no water, so we just calmed the community for now as we are about to go to Braamfontein and have the meeting with the Speaker," Mooi explained in an interview with state broadcaster SABC.

In Limpopo, frustrations over water shortages are also boiling over. Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) plan to march to the Premier's office to protest the dire water situation in Polokwane. EFF Limpopo Chairperson Lawrence Mapoulo expressed deep dissatisfaction, describing the water crisis as a "catastrophic matter." He added, “Polokwane Municipality has collapsed; in terms of water, it is a catastrophic matter. As we speak right now, there’s no water.”

These events underscore a broader water crisis plaguing South Africa, exacerbated by a combination of aging infrastructure, resource mismanagement, and the effects of climate change. On Monday, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi emphasized the need for law enforcement agencies to step up efforts to curb water wastage as the country grapples with escalating water shortages.

The national ministry highlighted that the crisis is largely driven by rising demand, deteriorating infrastructure, and widespread illegal water connections, posing significant challenges to sustainable water management across the country.