The Joburg Water Protests turned violent on 10 September 2025 when police fired rubber bullets at protesting residents and journalists in Westbury and Coronationville, Johannesburg. The community had been without water for almost a week, prompting widespread unrest and a heavy-handed police response.
Frustration Boils Over in Westbury and Coronationville
Residents of Westbury and Coronationville, two largely coloured communities in Johannesburg, took to the streets after enduring six consecutive days without water. Protesters set tyres alight and blocked major roads, demanding urgent intervention from Premier Panyaza Lesufi, not just Mayor Dada Morero.
“We don’t want the mayor of Johannesburg, Dada Morero, he has failed. We want his boss,” said one elderly resident.
Residents claim their water woes have lasted over six years, with worsening supply since 2023. Despite repeated complaints, many say the government has ignored their pleas.
Read more: Police Constable Holds Family Hostage for 16 Hours in Mamelodi – a tense standoff raises urgent questions about SAPS mental health protocols.
Police Shoot Rubber Bullets at Joburg Water Protests
During the protest, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) responded with stun grenades, tear gas, and rubber bullets. Several residents were injured.
Among the wounded was Julia Evans, a journalist from Daily Maverick, who was shot in the leg with a rubber bullet while covering the demonstration.
“I felt a sharp, hot impact on the side of my leg. A rubber bullet had hit me,” she said in her first-hand account.
Evans noted that officers did not issue any verbal warning before opening fire. She wasn’t wearing her press badge at the time, but had a camera around her neck.
Residents Speak Out: “We’re Tired of Neglect”
Community members shared heartbreaking stories. James Jacobs (68) said he now buys 5 litres of water for R30 from local shopkeepers.
“Now there is no water. I have to buy water from the Somalians who own shops,” Jacobs said.
Pensioner George van Heeden struggled to carry a 20-litre bucket of water home for his grandchildren.
“In Soweto, they have water. In Ennerdale, residents have water. What have we done?” he asked.
These testimonies highlight the human cost of Johannesburg’s deteriorating water infrastructure.
Also read: Tragic: Two Gauteng Schoolgirls Die Suddenly – community in shock as investigations into the sudden deaths continue.
SAPS Defends Use of Force
Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Mavela Masondo confirmed that police used rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, stating it was “minimum force” due to stone-throwing and public road blockades.
“The police are not aware that the journalist was within the crowd,” he added. “She is at liberty to open a case.”
This statement sparked concern from the media and civil society organisations, who argue that police need better training to differentiate protesters from the press.
SAPS Crowd Management Policy Under Scrutiny
According to SAPS’s National Standard on Crowd Management, officers must always attempt to de-escalate before using force.
The guidelines explicitly state:
“Where the use of force is unavoidable, respect for and protection of life has the highest priority.”
Independent policing expert David Bruce criticised SAPS’s reliance on rubber bullets.
“Their modus operandi is to fall back to using rubber bullets,” he told Daily Maverick.
A 2023 report by Amnesty International highlighted that rubber bullets often cause serious injury or death when misused.
Water System Maintenance Fails to Restore Trust
Johannesburg Water claims that ongoing maintenance at the Hursthill 1 Reservoir is responsible for the supply issues.
Mayor Morero stated:
“It takes time for the system to recover, so throttling had been implemented.”
But residents remain unconvinced, pointing to years of neglected infrastructure and poor communication. As of publication, Johannesburg Water had not responded to queries from Daily Maverick.
Journalists Caught in the Crossfire
The incident raises broader questions about press freedom and protest safety. South Africa’s Constitution guarantees the right to protest and the right of journalists to report freely.
This case, however, demonstrates the risks media face on the frontlines especially in communities facing service delivery failures.
IPID Investigation Likely
Julia Evans has the right to file a formal complaint. If she does, the matter will be escalated to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) for review.
The IPID investigates all incidents involving possible misconduct or excessive force by police.
Related story: 8 Soweto Pupils Allegedly Drugged and Assaulted – disturbing claims spark outrage and calls for urgent action.
Joburg Water Protests Are a Wake-Up Call
The Joburg Water Protests reflect deep-rooted issues in service delivery, police conduct, and government accountability. As water shortages continue and police resort to force, the right to protest and the safety of journalists hang in the balance.
This story is still developing.
