A protest over prolonged water shortages in Ratanda, Gauteng, has reportedly turned deadly, with community members alleging that two people were killed during clashes with police.
Residents say the township has been without a reliable water supply for more than four weeks, prompting demonstrations over the deteriorating situation.
Community activist Bayanda Radebe said frustration over the extended water outages had reached breaking point, but claimed the situation escalated after police intervened to disperse protesters.
"What further exacerbated the problem and the crisis is the force used by the police against civilians when they are expressing anger over this issue of water," Radebe said.
Radebe alleged that police used live ammunition during the protest on Thursday.
He further claimed that a second person died after being shot in the head, alleging that the victim was not involved in the protest.
"Yesterday it was reported that the second victim died. They shot him in the head. What makes it even worse is that this victim was sitting at a tavern. He was not even participating," he said.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has not confirmed the reported deaths or the allegations that officers fired live ammunition during the protest.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the incident. Police comment will be included once it is received.
The protest comes amid growing frustration among Ratanda residents over ongoing water supply disruptions, with community members calling for urgent intervention to restore access to water and address their concerns.