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Interview with a South African Water Activist

Jennifer Makoatsane is a petite woman with such a carefree laugh that it was difficult, upon our meeting, to imagine her at the forefront of Phiri’s bitter struggle against water privatization.   Once she begins talking, however, her more aggressive side comes through, and it becomes apparent that she is a leader in the fight against Johannesburg Water’s pre-paid water meters. As the secretary of Phiri Concerned Residents, Jennifer has many stories to tell.

BF: How quickly was the Phiri Concerned Residents Forum formed? How did people go about organizing it?

JM: “It was formed so quickly because in August of 2003 these people came to dig trenches.   They tampered with the electricity box, and we had to go two days without electricity.  We confronted them and they said they were just doing their job – that we should go to our councilor [locally elected representative]. We go to the municipality [to complain]. The councilor told us the workers were changing the infrastructure to install pre-paid water meters.  As we went out of the administration office we told the people to stop because we were not consulted.  Then, [in protest] we closed the trenches.  And that’s when we came together as residents and the APF (Anti-Privatization Forum) and Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee came, and they helped us to form an executive committee, and the struggle continued.”

BF: Did JohannesburgWater improve the infrastructure—something they had stated as an ‘immediate goal’?

JM: “Their infrastructure is messed up because there were no engineers to check to see if they should put in pre-paid water meters that way. They put in new pipes, and the water was hot because the pipes they dug were so close to the top of the ground.   After drinking that water, you would get diarrhea.  If it’s not diarrhea, constipation…When it rains, the pumps don’t function properly and you have to wait.”

BF: Every household is entitled to 6000 liters of ‘Free Essential Water.’ What are some reasons this 6000 liters is not enough?

JM: “Sanitation is very costly… women during that time of the month need to wash more than once a day. We don’t even use a bath—we use a hand-bather.    Now we only fill it 3-4 liter. Sick people need to be bathed sometimes twice a day. Only 1 sink-full a day is un-hygienic. Children can’t play with water, and the community pool is expensive. And for traditions (e.g. funerals and weddings) we fill a 200-liter drum with ginger ale and another with Umqombothi [African beer].” 

BF: Have citizens been able to tamper with the pre-paid water meters? 

JM: “They do.   There was one incident where someone bypassed the meter.  She was charged with tampering, and they cut off her water until she paid her bills.” 

BF: So, are illegal connections still feasible?

JM: “Exactly. According to the residents, we are not doing something illegal.   If they are doing Operation Gcin’amanzi [Johannesburg Water’s name for program which installs the prepaid water meters – it means “operation conserve water”], then we are doing Operation Vul’amanzi. [“operation reconnect”].   There was this old lady, Sarapina, who was disconnected, so she bought materials and hired some plumbers to reconnect, and she’s got water.  But the material was too small to reach the toilet, so it’s just by the kitchen window.”

BF: Why was the 6000 liters based on an eight-person household?

JM: “It was estimated because no survey was done.   In our culture, I don’t need to leave home… [People live with extended families, so many more than eight people live in one household]”

BF: What was the flat rate for water before the water meters were installed?  How many people could afford this? 

JM: “It was 62.5 rands/2000 liters [about $9]. It always included everything – refuse and all, so people would pay.   The minimum of 50 rands they would go and pay.  62.5 rands was the highest rate. Half of people owe arrears… and people’s water was never cut off.  ”

BF: Have there been any serious hygiene problems?   Any outbreaks of disease?

JM: “HIV/AIDS victims are suffering because home-based care givers are fighting over water.   Their life deteriorates.  It becomes difficult to help the sick because they need water for medications and food.  A family with diabetes has to take water for every day, and when it was cut off they had to drink sanitation water. In the long run, we see a lot of diseases coming.”

BF: What types of resistance have residents taken? 

JM: We marched to the local council, the mayor, Joburg water offices (APF financed the transportation).   We did some pickets (rallies). We sent memorandums, petitions.  Barricade busiest street in Soweto — Old Potchefstroom Road.  We cut the pipes, so water can run around.  We take out the meters and destroy them [chuckle].  We did research. Workshops were held where we educated people about both sides of the issues.  We attended debates about water being a public or private asset.  We have poets, you know.  We know how to paint wall murals on shop and graffiti on Joburg ads. We made some petrol bombs and bombed a Joburg storage place.  Police came to keep out fire.”

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