Fuming Lenasia South Residents Pelt Police With Rocks, Upset That Illegal Water Connections Are Cut

• Joburg Water disconnected illegal connections in the Phumla Mqashi area in Lenasia South, Gauteng
• Angry community members blocked roads in the area and threw rocks at police officers
• Residents slammed Joburg Water's actions, questioning how they were supposed to survive

Residents of Phumla Mqashi in Lenasia South are furious with Joburg Water and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD).

Residents were fuming after Joburg Water and the JMPD disconnected all illegal connections in the area.

Officials went into the area in the morning and cut off all connections, leaving residents with no water.

Residents attempt to stop JMPD from leaving

Tensions started to boil over when JMPD officers attempted to leave the area.

Furious residents barred the roads with rocks to prevent the vehicles from exiting the area and then started to throw rocks at police when officers tried to stop them.

Police, in turn, started firing rubber bullets at protestors in a bid to dispel them.

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Residents loot passing trucks

The situation didn’t die down there. Residents took to the streets to block routes and even loot passing vehicles.

Police were called into action once more after residents attempted to loot a truck carrying alcohol.

Tensions were high as residents refused to back down, saying they would only return to their homes if the water was reconnected.

Community members unhappy with Joburg Water

Community members who spoke to the media following the protests voiced their disgust with Joburg Water and its decision to cut water to the area.

Many voiced frustrations with the lack of prior warning, while others questioned how they would survive without water.

Gugu Manana, an ANC representative in the area, was more critical of the decision to cut the water, describing Joburg Water as evil. She said:

“Joburg Water, they have a criminal strategy. They want to see the community killing each other. So, they were sent by someone somewhere.”

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Source: Briefly News