‘We are tired of a dysfunctional government,’ activists tell Morero at Joburg water protest

By Johnathan Paoli

The streets outside the Johannesburg Council Chambers in Braamfontein were transformed into a sea of placards on Saturday as residents, civil society groups, and community leaders united to tell the metro, its mayor and councillors that the city’s water crisis — the result of a ‘dysfunctional government’ — must be prioritised.

Johannesburg’s water crisis has pushed residents to the breaking point, with intermittent supply, dry taps, and failing infrastructure — the result of years of maintenance neglect — now defining daily life for communities.

The protest opened with a solemn prayer from Reverend Tshepo Matubatuba, who urged those gathered to stand together in the struggle for justice.

“We are all fighting for access to water, which is more than just a human right. It is the source of life and the lifeline for all of creation,” he declared.

His words set the tone for a demonstration marked