Bronkhorstspruit residents pelt local police station with stones during water shortage protest
After grappling with water shortages for months, some residents resorted to blocking roads with rubble and rocks.
Picture: Pixabay/balouriarajesh
JOHANNESBURG - Bronkhorstspruit residents in Pretoria East resorted to pelting the local police station with stones during an overnight protest prompted by a lack of water.
Some community members blocked roads with rubble and rocks as taps ran dry in Rethabiseng, Ekangala and other areas.
Residents have been grappling with persistent water shortages for months.
The situation escalated during the week when the city's water infrastructure came under pressure.
The City of Tshwane's MMC for Utilities, Tsebo Majoro, said repairs on the water distribution pumps would be completed on Friday.
“In the interim, water tankers will be deployed in the area to augment what is currently available to the low-lying areas and also assist the vulnerable residents in affected communities.”
Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink condemned the attack on the police station.
“We’re working with the police to secure the community as much as possible and we plead with community leaders and those who've assigned themselves the title of community leaders. Please do not destroy infrastructure.
“As we fix the water situation, law and order must be maintained, otherwise, we'll end up with more problems than just water.”