Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has visited the families of Sipho Chipu Motaung and Katleho Moloi, the two men who lost their lives during the recent service delivery protests in Ratanda, promising government support while reaffirming efforts to resolve the area’s water crisis.
The two men died after violent protests erupted last week over prolonged water outages in Ratanda, within the Lesedi Local Municipality.
The demonstrations escalated into clashes between protesters and police, while the home of the municipality’s Executive Mayor was also set alight.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatalities after allegations that police fired at protesters.
The unrest followed widespread frustration over water shortages after Rand Water imposed a 20% supply restriction on the municipality because of its outstanding debt.
Following high-level engagements between the national and provincial governments and Rand Water, the restriction has since been lifted, and efforts are underway to restore normal water supply to affected communities.
Speaking after meeting the bereaved families, Premier Lesufi described the visit as one of the most difficult moments of his tenure.
“It was a very difficult and painful process, but fulfilling that we have finally managed to meet the families. No family deserves to go through this pain. It was extremely emotional to lock eyes and interact with them. And extremely difficult to answer simple questions but heavily loaded questions: Should our children die because of water?” said Premier Lesufi.
The Premier said government is relieved that progress has been made in resolving the immediate water crisis and announced further interventions aimed at preventing similar incidents.
“So at least we are relieved that we have resolved this challenge of water. We are following it up, and we had a follow-up meeting with the Minister late last night. We have established a task team to assist us for the next six months to turn around the finances in terms of billing. It will permanently resolve the matter,” he added.
Lesufi acknowledged the grief and frustration expressed by the families and committed the provincial government to providing both emotional and practical support.
“We are committed jointly with the Executive Mayor to give them supportโฆ a high level of counselling and also support towards burial activities because they requested the state to assist them. I must say, it’s a difficult process.”
He added that government leaders should never have to comfort families who have lost loved ones during service delivery protests.
“These are things that we shouldn’t have to do as public representativesโฆ our task is to render services. But we will continue to work with these families,” Lesufi said.
The Gauteng Government continues to work with the Department of Water and Sanitation, Rand Water and the Lesedi Local Municipality to stabilise water supply and improve the municipality’s financial position, while police investigations into the violence and the torching of the Executive Mayor’s home remain ongoing.
