Joburg Water Crisis Deepens: Ebony Park and Westbury Residents Take to the Streets

Ebony Park and Westbury Residents Protest Over Water Shortages

MIDRAND, 10 Sept 2025 - The situation in Ebony Park, Tembisa, was relatively calm on Tuesday afternoon after residents took to the streets earlier in the day, demanding an uninterrupted water supply. The community says they have been struggling with severe water shortages for months, with running water only available for a few hours at night.

READ: Joburg Water Crisis: R27 Billion Backlog Revealed as Cause

But Ebony Park is not alone. In Westbury, another Johannesburg community, residents have also taken to the streets in frustration over persistent water cuts. For days, locals there have been demanding that Joburg Water restore reliable supply, saying their daily lives have been brought to a standstill.

Residents’ frustrations

According to communities in both Ebony Park and Westbury, Joburg Water has failed to provide them with a consistent supply, leaving households, schools, and vulnerable groups deeply affected. Initially, residents were notified of scheduled water cuts on specific days, but recently taps have run dry daily without any warning.

In Ebony Park, community member Karamuni described the toll on daily life:

• Children are forced to return home from school by mid-morning as institutions cannot operate without water.
• Elderly residents, some over 80 years old, have to wake up at midnight to fetch water for the day.
• Some children have reportedly fallen ill due to poor sanitation and lack of clean water.

“Even now as I speak, we do not have water. People are frustrated, children’s education is being disrupted, and the elderly are suffering,” Karamuni said.

In Westbury, residents have voiced similar concerns, adding that the lack of clean water has worsened health risks and left many without the ability to cook, clean, or maintain basic hygiene.

Schools and health affected

Parents in both communities say the crisis has become unbearable, with children missing out on full school days. Reports of waterborne infections among learners have raised further concerns.

In addition, residents argue that fetching water in the middle of the night is unsafe and undignified, particularly for pensioners and vulnerable groups.

Local leadership responds

Ward councillor Priscilla in Ebony Park acknowledged the crisis, saying she has raised the matter with the MMC for Infrastructure, the mayor’s office, and provincial authorities. However, she admitted that her efforts have not yet brought relief.

“I’ve been in constant communication with officials, but the community is still without answers. We are waiting for the MMC to address the residents directly,” she explained.

READ: Johannesburg's Water Demand Pushes Entire Gauteng System to Its Limit

Leaders in Westbury have echoed the same frustrations, accusing Joburg Water of failing to provide timelines or long-term solutions.

Tankers not a solution

The city has deployed water tankers to both areas, but residents say this is an unreliable and unsafe alternative. Some tankers do not arrive regularly, while others run dry before reaching all households. Concerns have also been raised about the cleanliness of the tanker water.

“We are tired of tankers. We just want water flowing from our taps,” said another Ebony Park resident.

Ongoing protest threat

Residents in Ebony Park began protesting on Monday night, blockading roads and burning tyres. They have vowed to continue demonstrations until the issue is resolved. In Westbury, residents have made similar threats, warning that protests will escalate if water is not restored.

For now, communities across Johannesburg are waiting for city officials to provide a permanent solution. While calm has been restored temporarily, frustrations remain high, with residents insisting that water in their taps—not tankers—is the only acceptable outcome.