A powerful demonstration is set to take place on Friday, 9 May 2025 at 9am, as Cosmo City residents and activists unite outside the Randburg Magistrates Court to demand justice for the so-called Cosmos City 3, the three community members arrested for peacefully opposing the rollout of Cosmo City prepaid water meters.
Leading this mobilisation is Phakama Mhlali, a well-known community representative and secretary of the Civic Action for Democracy and Equality – Gauteng. This coalition of civil society and community-based organisations is calling on the City of Johannesburg and Joburg Water to stop criminalising legitimate community protests and to begin engaging meaningfully with the voices of residents.
Residents have expressed deep frustration over the Cosmo City prepaid water meter installations, which they say were introduced without proper consultation or transparency. Initially, the project was presented to the community as routine infrastructure repairs.
However, it quickly evolved into the contentious implementation of Cosmo City prepaid water meters, leaving many residents feeling deceived and excluded from the decision-making process. This lack of engagement has caused widespread concern and anger, as many residents have experienced regular disruptions to their water supply, unsafe conditions due to poor installation practices, and unresolved billing issues that date back years.
Community members argue that the sudden activation of Cosmo City prepaid water meters has often occurred without prior notice or explanation, creating unnecessary confusion and hardship for households already burdened by poverty. Mhlali, a key organiser of the protest, has been vocal in challenging the city’s approach. “Our community has never refused to pay for services. What we refuse is to be bullied into accepting projects without dialogue, transparency, or justice,” said Mhlali.
Unresolved issues
In formal correspondence to the City, Cosmo City residents outlined their grievances in detail. They described how frequent water disruptions and faulty installations have become a norm in their daily lives. Many installations were done hastily and left behind unsafe conditions, such as exposed pipes and damaged pavements, putting residents at physical risk.
The processes surrounding Cosmo City prepaid water meter activation have been shrouded in secrecy, with many households finding their meters suddenly active without any prior explanation. A longstanding issue has also been the historical municipal debt that remains unresolved, which residents argue stems from legacy billing errors by the municipality, not from any refusal to pay for services.
Another key point of contention is the unequal rollout of Cosmo City prepaid water meters. Some areas within Cosmo City have been disproportionately targeted, while others remain unaffected. This inconsistent implementation has led to perceptions of unfair treatment and deepened mistrust between the community and city officials.
Despite numerous efforts to engage with representatives of the City of Johannesburg and Joburg Water, including documented meetings with the Speaker of Council and various regional directors, residents say their concerns have gone unanswered. The protesting residents are demanding an immediate halt to what they see as intimidation tactics and a commitment to fair, transparent service delivery.
Chief among their demands is a moratorium on the arrests of community members who are simply exercising their right to protest. They also want a temporary suspension of Cosmo City prepaid water meter activations until all extensions within Cosmo City are consulted and addressed comprehensively.
Residents are calling for clear and uniform practices in how Cosmo City prepaid water meters are installed, with all processes being explained and agreed upon beforehand. In addition, they are urging the City to review and cancel all pre-allocated municipal debt arising from historic billing issues and to establish a formal platform for ongoing negotiations with affected communities.
A peaceful protest
The planned picket will be a peaceful but determined expression of community power. Far from an act of defiance, the protest represents a plea for accountability, justice, and a functioning democracy, according to the organisers, who said residents refuse to be silenced by intimidation and demand inclusive, transparent service delivery that respects their rights and dignity.
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