Komani Activists Win Battle Against Protest Criminalisation

A coalition of social justice organisations has celebrated a major victory for grassroots activism in Komani following the withdrawal of charges against residents arrested during protests over the town’s worsening water crisis.

The joint statement, issued on 20 October 2025 by the Amandla PE Collective, the Unemployed People’s Movement (UPM), the Independent Komani Residents Association, and the LCMF, condemned what they called the criminalisation of protest and the use of courts to silence communities demanding access to basic services.

According to the statement, the case against several activists — detained during a peaceful demonstration earlier this year — was “politically motivated and without merit.” The withdrawal of charges, they said, affirms the right of citizens to demand accountability from the state.

Water Crisis Persists Despite Promises

Komani residents continue to endure one of the Eastern Cape’s most severe and long-running water crises. Communities in areas such as Ezibeleni, Victoria Park, and Mlungisi report frequent dry taps, unreliable supply schedules, and limited access to water tankers.

“For far too long, the residents of Komani have lived without access to safe, clean water,” the statement reads. “Despite repeated promises from local and provincial authorities, the situation has worsened, leaving communities to fend for themselves.”

The organisations accused the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality of ongoing negligence, mismanagement, and lack of accountability in addressing the crisis, calling for urgent, sustainable measures to restore consistent water supply.

Democracy and the Right to Protest

The joint statement criticised the use of arrests and intimidation against citizens exercising their democratic rights, arguing that peaceful protest is a legitimate means of holding the state accountable.

“When people organise and take to the streets — peacefully and lawfully — to demand water and dignity, they should not be treated as criminals,” the statement continues. “The criminalisation of those who speak truth to power exposes the failures of our local government and its disregard for constitutional rights.”

The groups reaffirmed that access to water is a human right, not a privilege, and that activism should not be punished but respected as part of a functioning democracy.

A Call for Accountability

In their statement, the movements demanded:

• Immediate and sustainable solutions to the water crisis in Komani.

• Accountability for municipal officials responsible for mismanagement.

• An end to the harassment and criminalisation of activists.

• Increased public investment in infrastructure to ensure water justice for all.

The organisations said the dismissal of the charges is a victory not just for Komani, but for all working-class communities facing repression when calling for basic services.

“Our social movements are not criminals. Our protests are not crimes,” the groups declared. “The true criminals are those who steal public funds and unleash police violence on innocent people.”

A Message of Defiance and Unity

The statement concluded with a powerful message of solidarity, urging communities across South Africa to unite in defending democratic space and people’s rights.

“In the struggle for water, dignity, and justice — the people shall not be silenced,” it said. “We will continue to organise, mobilise, and resist injustice wherever it appears. The defence of people’s organs of power is a defence of democracy itself.”

Local Context

The Komani water crisis remains one of the most urgent service delivery challenges in the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality. The municipality has faced repeated criticism from residents, civil society, and provincial authorities over infrastructure failures and lack of communication.

While the recent court decision has offered activists a moment of relief, communities say the fight for consistent, clean, and affordable water is far from over.