Johannesburg – The water crisis in Johannesburg took a turn for the worse on Friday when water depots were shut down because staff downed tools to press for their unpaid wages.
“This matter is serious,” said Councillor Nicole van Dyk, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Johannesburg Shadow MMC for EIS (Water, Power and Environment).
“The sites that have been indefinitely shut down by this strike, also house spare parts, and vehicles essential for Joburg Water to keep (its limited) supply of water going.
“This could not have come at a worse time, as the city is already staring down the barrel of a water crisis created by cadres, as well as having an inept executive.”
Councillor Van Dyk added: “The DA understands that the City executive failed to release Joburg Water’s funds on time, who have in turn been unable to pay their security contractors, who have downed tools to strike”.
Subsequently, Joburg Water, as well as every single resident impacted by the forced closure of Joburg Water depots and sites, must ask the question – how and why did this happen?
Councillor Van Dyk said the DA understands that Joburg Water contacted the Johannesburg Metro Police Department), who were deployed to defuse the situation but ended with the officers on site siding with the security guards.
“Therefore, the situation has remained unchanged and the strike was ongoing,” she said.
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