Residents of Kokosi, near Fochville on Gauteng’s West Rand, have been left desperate after enduring five months without running water, forcing many to fetch water from a sewage drain to survive.
The crisis stems from Rand Water’s decision to cut supply to the Merafong Municipality, which owes the utility over R1 billion. Negotiations to settle the debt reportedly collapsed.
Community leader Shimani Ramatshosa says the situation has become a health disaster, with residents falling ill after consuming and using the contaminated water.
“There are residents who have fallen sick, not only with diarrhea. We’ve had reports of women developing infections after using this water for flushing,” said Ramatshosa.
He condemned the Merafong Municipality for what he called “recklessness and negligence”, saying the ballooning R1.4 billion debt shows years of financial mismanagement.
As the crisis deepens, frustrated residents are demanding immediate intervention before the situation worsens further.
