South Africa's Water Crisis: Protests & Shortages

0:00It's March 19th, here's your global news in two minutes. Residents in northern Johannesburg suburbs, like Greenside and Green Hill, have gone without running water for over a month. In Hamansgro, about 60 miles north, some areas have faced dry taps for two months or more. People across these spots are dealing with empty pipes, turning to water tankers just to get by. This water trouble follows years of power blackouts that plague South Africa until early this year. Now, crumbling infrastructure and low investment have shifted the crisis to water supplies, which experts say hits even harder for health and every day. Life, protesters from all walks of life are hitting the streets, chanting demands and banging empty bottles. Families worry about sickness without clean water for washing or cooking. Longtime locals call it a disgrace, saying it strips away basic rights and dignity. Blame also falls on watermophias. People groups that snag contracts for tankers, then sabotage pipes to keep the business going.

1:04Some even charge residents for free deliveries, leaving the poorest to haul water long distances in wheelbarrows. President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged a national water crisis team and criminal charges for officials who fail. Municipal leaders suggest buying their own tankers as a short fix, but experts push for real infrastructure upgrades to end the shortages for good. This DNN story comes to you thanks to our sponsor. Some people meditate. I just lay down and press play, S-O-L-I, solelypillo.com.