Komani Residents Demand Action as Mayor Faces Anger Over Water Crisis

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Residents of Komani in the Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) voiced their frustration on Tuesday, 21 January, as they confronted Mayor Lusanda Sizani over the ongoing water crisis. During his update on the situation, Sizani was met with boos and chants of “voetsek, sifuna amanzi” (voetsek, we want water). The mayor’s attempts to rally the crowd with “Amandla!” were met with resistance, as residents accused him of dishonesty.

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The tension escalated when Sizani failed to show up at the promised venue, Mlungisi Stadium, for the meeting. Instead, he addressed a gathering at the Thobi Kula Indoor Sport Centre, which further enraged the community. Residents’ leader, Solomzi Nkwentsha, called the mayor a liar and demanded he address the crowd where he had initially promised to meet them. The mayor was eventually escorted to the stadium by protesters under heavy police guard.

At the stadium, Nkwentsha raised concerns about alleged corruption, claiming that water suppliers from Tsomo, over 150km away, were profiting from the situation, with some local suppliers prioritising friends instead of delivering water to the community. He highlighted the dire situation, where local schools have been without water since October 2024, leaving children unable to bathe or use toilets.

Another resident, Lucky Ngemntu, echoed these frustrations, stating that children were suffering because of the water shortages. “Our kids go to school without bathing, and it’s a nightmare when they are at school as there’s no water for them to use the toilets,” he said. Residents expressed their exhaustion with empty promises and demanded action.

In his address, Sizani explained the ongoing water challenges, citing a lack of rainfall and the empty Bonkolo Dam as major issues. He acknowledged that repairing the Xonxa Dam could take up to six months. Sizani outlined efforts to address the crisis, including rationing water, carting supplies, and working with organizations like the Gift of the Givers to explore alternative solutions like drilling boreholes and cleaning the Bonkolo Dam to increase its capacity.