Johannesburg’s much-anticipated citizen-led water protest started on a turbulent note on Saturday morning outside the Johannesburg Council Chambers, as tensions flared between community organisers and members of the Democratic Alliance (DA), including federal chairperson Helen Zille.

The protest was organised by a coalition of activists, unions, religious groups, and small business associations, and was marketed as a peaceful show of unity under the slogan “People Before Politics”.

Demonstrators called on the City of Johannesburg and Johannesburg Water to urgently resolve the deepening water crisis that has left many communities without consistent access for weeks.

However, the atmosphere shifted as Zille — who has been put forward as the DA mayoral candidate for the metro — began an interview on the sidelines of the event.

Her remarks about governance and the DA’s record in service delivery were met with

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