Zuko Komisa

Johannesburg Water workers were sent to remove illegal water connections at the Phumla Mqashi informal settlement in Lenasia, but irate residents drove them away, causing chaos on Tuesday.
The connections presented significant obstacles to the municipality’s water system, according to Johannesburg Water, and significantly increased water losses and shortages around the city.
Joburg Water said the disconnection was to address unauthorized connections to the city’s water network, which are also a major contributor to water losses. The neighborhood is known to lack official water infrastructure.
The two main entry points into the neighborhood, including the busy Golden Highway, were blocked by hundreds of people who mobilized.
Following the hurling of stones by locals at Johannesburg Water and JMPD officers, the latter used rubber bullets to scatter the irate mob. Only a portion of the intended disconnections were carried out by Johannesburg Water before the operation was canceled.
Point of View with Phemelo Motene spoke to Executive Manager for Stakeholder Relations and Communcation at Joburg Water Nondumiso Mabuza.
Listen to the full conversation here:
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