Police fired rubber bullets at protesting residents in Soshanguve Block L, north of Pretoria, after demonstrations over prolonged water shortages escalated into unrest.
Frustrated community members took to the streets on Wednesday, barricading roads with burning tyres and rocks to demand the restoration of water supply. Residents say they have been without running water for nearly two weeks.
The protest disrupted traffic in the area and also affected bus services to the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), leaving many students stranded and unable to reach campus.
Law enforcement officers moved in to disperse the crowd, using rubber bullets to clear the roads and restore order. The situation remains tense, with residents accusing authorities of responding with force rather than addressing their concerns.
One resident who said he was struck by rubber bullets during the protest claimed police used excessive force and failed to engage with the community before taking action.
“Whatever they are doing to this community is wrong. We were just protesting. They should have spoken to us first. Now I’ve been injured by rubber bullets here is the proof,” he said, adding that he plans to open a case against the police.
Residents say the ongoing outages have disrupted daily life, making it difficult to cook, clean or maintain basic hygiene, and have called on local authorities to urgently intervene.
The City of Tshwane has not yet issued a detailed statement on the cause of the outage or when supply will be restored.
For many in the area, the message is clear: when the taps run dry, frustration quickly spills onto the streets.