The Joburg Crisis Alliance notes that the water crisis protest on 01 November 2025, at the Metro Centre, brought people together from across the city of Johannesburg in a show of unity. The large numbers who attended the protest reflected the unity that can be built from a common struggle across race, class, and geography within the City of Johannesburg.
The water crisis, however, is symptomatic of a more profound crisis in the governance of the City of Johannesburg. It exposes the dysfunctionality of the city to properly manage its entities, to hold its boards accountable, and to manage its finances and budgets in key priority areas. Greater expenditure on the City’s water infrastructure would have averted the crisis the City now faces. The crisis is many years in the making. Citizens cannot trust in political parties solely to prioritise basic services, hence the need for active citizenry.
The demands of the JCA and partner organisations such as WaterCAN, JoburgCAN, CADE, DoD, The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, and many others were detailed in a letter of demand sent to the Mayor two weeks prior to the protest. These demands included:
- Ring-fencing of all water and sanitation funds;
- Review of the sweeping of the Joburg Water account;
- Implementing the City’s Water Turnaround Strategy;
- Investigating tanker contracts;
- Working with civil society to find real solutions; and
- Guaranteeing equitable access to piped water for every community.
The letter of demand sent to the City can be accessed here.
The JCA is appreciative of the fact that Mayor Dada Morero came to the protest and received the list of demands in person. Very often, the task of receiving a memorandum is delegated downwards so as not to have to face the anger of residents.
In his response at the protest, the Mayor acknowledged the role of Civil society when he said “ Civil society has a responsibility to keep the government in line, and what you have done today is a revolutionary act.” The JCA trusts that the Mayor’s indication to engage with the JCA on the letter of demand will occur soon.
The JCA views this promised engagement as an essential means of getting into the fine details of the commitments the City is making to address the water crisis. Any engagement with the City will have to be focused on a list of clear commitments, including timeframes and budgetary allocations. To hold the City accountable, these details will have to be the core agenda for a meeting.
Together with all partner organisations, the JCA has started tracking water availability across the city and will continue to do so to ensure that communities’ water issues are addressed. This would include visiting affected communities to gather first-hand information and not relying on other sources of reporting.
Should the City fail to implement its commitments to solving the water crisis, the JCA will step up its accountability campaign in 2026. The Joburg Water Forum and its many partners will continue to organise, connect communities, and demand transparency, accountability, and justice – until every tap runs.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Anele Gcwabe
Communications Manager
Ahmed Kathrada Foundation
083-278-8832
anele@kathradafoundation.org