Residents in Ratanda, a township in Gauteng, are facing severe water shortages that have forced families to walk 45 minutes to a nearby cemetery to collect water.

The crisis has led to daily challenges, including health risks and financial strain, as households continue to receive high municipal bills despite limited access to water.

A 19-year-old resident, Ntokozo Mndawu, described the situation, noting that their household owes over R40,000 in water debt since moving into their RDP house in 2024.

Community activist Peter Monethe highlighted that the crisis has persisted for two years, with issues like pipe bursts and pressure fluctuations exacerbating the problem.The Lesedi local municipality attributed recent supply interruptions to outstanding debts to Rand Water, which led to a 20% reduction in bulk supply.

Despite assurances of imminent water restoration, residents remain without reliable access, with some resorting to fetching water from ditches to flush toilets.The situation has sparked protests, with calls for urgent action to address both the water crisis and municipal billing discrepancies.