Water alert lifted in Bez Valley as Melville residents protest prolonged outages

Johannesburg Water has lifted a precautionary water quality alert in parts of Bezuidenhout Valley after laboratory tests found no contamination.

The utility says water samples collected on 23 and 25 October from affected properties along 8th Avenue, at the corners of 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Streets, complied with the required microbiological and chemical water quality standards.

Residents were warned on 22 October not to drink or use tap water amid concerns about possible contamination following repairs to a damaged water pipeline at the corner of 6th and 8th Avenue.

The damage occurred after a tree fell on the pipeline during excavation work by a contractor replacing a sewer pipe.

Johannesburg Water spokesperson, Nombuso Shabalala, says the final laboratory results confirm that the water meets the required standards.

“The precautionary water quality alert has therefore been lifted,” Shabalala said.

Technical teams are expected to restore the water supply to the affected area as soon as possible.

Once supply resumes, residents have been advised to run their taps and flush out water that may have remained in their internal plumbing during the restriction before using it for consumption.

Meanwhile, tensions remain high in Melville and surrounding areas, where frustrated residents took to the streets over another wave of prolonged water outages.

Protesters carried placards reading “Turn the taps on” and “Enough excuses. #Heads must roll”, demanding a reliable water supply and accountability from the utility.

Water Community Action Network (Water CAN) founder, Ferial Adams, says residents supplied by the Commando System are angry after spending weeks without a reliable water supply.

“There is no real hope of the system stabilising anytime soon,” Adams warned.

Melville water protests earlier today: Residents of Brixton, Auckland Park, Melville, Emmerentia & many other areas around Joburg experience frequent #watershedding.

But @JHBWater & @Rand_Water remain quiet & refuse to explain why certain areas have no water for weeks on end https://t.co/wXsBn71GIP

— BenvAZA (@BenvAZA) October 28, 2026

The latest protest comes amid repeated complaints about water shortages in the neighbourhood, including appeals from residents on social media for a consistent water supply.

@JHBWater Get solar! We have a right to a consistent flow of water

— Mary (@lambkin_mary) October 10, 2026

Adams has also questioned warnings about excessive water consumption across the city, asking how consumption can be considered too high when some residents are struggling to access water at all.

Last week, Rand Water flagged Johannesburg among the municipalities exceeding their water consumption levels, placing additional pressure on the supply network.

Rand Water spokesperson, Makenosi Maroo, called on the City of Johannesburg, the City of Tshwane and Madibeng Municipality to urgently implement measures to reduce consumption.

Maroo warned that Rand Water could introduce its own interventions, including limiting supply, if municipalities fail to act.

@JHBWater When will we have water in Melville?!!!
How are we expected to live without water?!!

— lindelwa mlotshwa (@lindelwamlotsh1) October 28, 2026