Snakes halt Joburg water repairs

Snakes

Johannesburg – Johannesburg Water has resumed repairs on a leaking pipe in Witpoortjie after operations were paused when two snakes were found in the chamber.

The Johannesburg Zoo assisted in safely removing the snakes. 

“Johannesburg Water has had to place the repairs on hold after two snakes were found inside the chamber, posing a safety risk to the team. Johannesburg Zoo has been contacted and will provide assistance,” Johannesburg Water said in a statement. 

Mobile water tankers were provided during the outage.

Meanwhile, multiple suburbs across Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and Tshwane are experiencing water interruptions due to pipe bursts and planned maintenance, prompting protests in areas like Westbury.

Residents of Westbury and nearby areas protested on Wednesday over ongoing water shortages, leading to violent clashes with police, who used rubber bullets, stun grenades, and teargas.

The protest began peacefully in Coronationville but escalated after residents threw stones and bottles.

Major roads, including Albertina Sisulu Road, were blocked with burning tyres and debris, causing traffic disruptions in Westbury, Coronationville, Westdene, Martindale, and Sophiatown.

Residents complained of erratic water supply for years despite paying for services, citing inadequate water trucks and long delays in fixing infrastructure.

This marked the second protest in just over two weeks, following broken promises of improved water supply after a similar demonstration on August 26.

Community members are demanding urgent action from the City of Johannesburg, highlighting the impact on households, schools, and workers.

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