---
title: "Centurion protesters block streets over three-week water outage"
description: "Frustrated residents say their pleas have fallen on deaf ears, as some complain that ‘my house smells bad because I cannot flush the toilet or wash dishes’."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "GROUNDUP"
author: "Chris Gilili for GroundUp"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/chris-gilili-for-groundup/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-03-16-centurion-protesters-block-streets-over-three-week-water-outage/"
published: "2023-03-16T20:35:33"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 293
---

# Centurion protesters block streets over three-week water outage

> Frustrated residents say their pleas have fallen on deaf ears, as some complain that ‘my house smells bad because I cannot flush the toilet or wash dishes’.

By Chris Gilili for GroundUp · Published 16 March 2023, 22:35 SAST

## Key points
- Frustrated residents of Thatchfield Ridge, Centurion took to the streets and blocked roads in protest against a lack of running water for the past three weeks. The City of Tshwane has been called to assist, with a response from Rand Water redirected back to them - yet to be received.
- Residents of Thatchfield Ridge in Centurion blocked roads to demand water restoration
- They have been without running water for at least three weeks
- Ward 77 councillor Tembeni Thabatha (ANC) blames the City of Tshwane
- Rand Water and City of Tshwane have promised to investigate the water problem

## Content

Residents of Thatchfield Ridge in Centurion took their frustration to the streets on Wednesday, using their cars to block some roads to demand that water be restored to their area. The protesters say they have been without running water for at least three weeks.

“Some days water comes for a limited period, between 10pm and 4am. Even then, water only runs from the taps outside,” said Nokhaya Seapolelo.

“Our houses are filthy and smelly because we can’t clean them. My child is in the hospital and I have asked the hospital not to discharge her because she will come home to a filthy house. I cannot risk that. Even bathing and cooking is a struggle for us. We pay levies, but we don’t receive water.”

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Residents say they have also written to the City of Tshwane and have called them for help since Monday but to no avail.

Ward 77 councillor Tembeni Thabatha (ANC) blamed the City of Tshwane. “I have been requesting the City to supply water tankers to relieve these people… This is not a new problem, especially in Thatchfield. The City never gives a proper response.”

*Read in*Daily Maverick:*“*[*When crises collide — water is South Africa’s next ‘perfect storm’*](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-02-02-when-crises-collide-water-is-south-africas-next-perfect-storm/)*”*

He said he was told by a City staffer that Rand Water was experiencing a problem with water pressure. According to Thabatha, the City of Tshwane and Rand Water have promised to get teams to investigate the water problem.

Questions sent to Rand Water were redirected to the City of Tshwane on Wednesday. We are yet to get a response. This article will be updated with their response once received. **DM**

First published by [GroundUp](https://www.groundup.org.za/article/centurion-community-block-streets-over-three-week-water-outage/).

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