{"id":21043,"date":"2026-02-12T04:15:26","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T04:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=21043"},"modified":"2026-02-12T04:15:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T04:15:26","slug":"i-havent-had-water-for-24-days-protester-tells-joburg-mayor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=21043","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I haven\u2019t had water for 24 days\u2019 protester tells Joburg mayor"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Joburg residents affected by ongoing water outages took to the streets on Wednesday morning to show their frustration.<\/p>\n

In Melville, about 150 residents from various neighbourhoods demonstrated by carrying empty plastic bottles and banners, demanding water and accountability from officials.\"\"<\/p>\n

Read: Joburg Water confirms strike over, but will water flow from taps?<\/p>\n

Westdene resident Marc\u00e9 Heath said life without water for extended periods of time was unacceptable.<\/p>\n

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Residents on Jan Smuts Avenue say that their constitutional right to water is being violated. Image: Ihsaan Haffejee\/GroundUp<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

She said frequent and clear communication was needed from officials.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoburg Water needs to not only solve this problem but also engage with residents, because we never know when the water will come back on.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe are living in limbo,\u201d said Heath.<\/p>\n

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Protesters kept one lane open to allow vehicles to pass. Many motorists hooted to show support to the protest.<\/p>\n

Near busy Jan Smuts Avenue in Parktown, another group gathered, banging empty bottles with some people chanting: \u201cWe want water.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Some residents found creative ways of participating in the protest on Wednesday. Image: Ihsaan Haffejee\/GroundUp<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

A couple of hours later, officials including Mayor Dada Morero and Johannesburg Water managing director Ntshavheni Mukwevho, held a media briefing at the construction site of the Brixton reservoir.<\/p>\n

Read\/listen:
Johannesburg mayor touts new strategy as water crisis grips city
\u2018Leaking bucket of money\u2019: Joburg water crisis laid bare<\/p>\n

At the briefing, Brixton resident Mauritz Preller confronted the mayor about the lack of water in his neighbourhood. \u201cSmell me. I haven\u2019t washed in days,\u201d he said, while gesturing for Morero to smell his armpit.<\/p>\n

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Brixton resident Mauritz Preller (left) confronts Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero about the ongoing lack of water in his neighbourhood. Image: Ihsaan Haffejee\/GroundUp<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Preller accused the mayor of hosting a \u201cphoto opportunity\u201d while neglecting the immediate needs of residents.<\/p>\n

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In response, Morero said local and national government departments have been called in to help solve the water crises.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He blamed high water demand and infrastructure challenges.<\/p>\n