Community members blocked roads and participated in demonstrations, calling for immediate action from the authorities to address the ongoing water shortages.

Residents of Westbury and Coronationville in Johannesburg, South Africa, took to the streets on Wednesday to protest the ongoing water shortages. Frustrated members of the community blocked roads and held demonstrations, calling for immediate action from local authorities, according to reports from the state broadcaster SABC.

The protests escalated, with tensions rising and at least one individual reported to have been arrested during the demonstrations. Authorities have advised motorists to avoid the area as several roads have been obstructed with rocks and rubble. Police have stated that the situation is being closely monitored.

In response to the protests, Johannesburg City Manager Floyd Brink called for calm and reassured residents that the water supply would be restored within the next few days. Brink explained that significant rehabilitation efforts would be made, including the construction of a new tower and reservoir. “We have deployed our water tanks and water tankers, working closely with the council. Although it is a frustration for the community, we are committed to ensuring that water will be flowing again in these areas within two to three days,” Brink told local media.

The ongoing water crisis has severely affected the daily lives of residents, with particular concern for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and young children, as reported by SABC. One local resident, Nathan Jones, expressed his frustration, stating, “I want the government to fix it. Look, we are sitting years without water now; how long can we sit like this?”

South Africa has faced recurring water scarcity issues. In October, residents of Westbury and Westdene, neighboring suburbs west of Johannesburg's central business district, staged protests against water outages after authorities imposed daily water limits on municipalities. The Water and Sanitation Ministry attributed the ongoing crisis to factors such as increasing demand, aging infrastructure, and illegal water connections. Additionally, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced plans earlier this month to reduce water distribution in order to manage the growing scarcity crisis.