Coronationville residents cite gangs and water woes before elections
Ongoing: Elections Hot
Residents of Coronationville in Johannesburg say gang violence, water shortages and poor services shape how they will vote in the local elections on 4 November. Several named the parties they plan to back.
Shawn George said water problems persist four years after the end-2022 outage. He said he changed his vote to the DA. Ivan George, a former DA supporter, now backs the ACDP and said DA councillor Genevieve Sherman has never been an activist.
Shayelene Kruger, an unemployed mother of five, campaigns for the DA with a group of about eight people. She described shootings in the area and said: "There's so much blood here". A 20-year-old woman in her group said gangsterism stops young girls from showing peace signs.
A retired man who did not give his name described a high crime rate and said six men tried to rob an elderly neighbour earlier this month. He said the presence of the Defence Force has not brought relief. A 13-year-old boy, Ethen Sass, was run over by a taxi on Fuel Road while he collected water from a tanker.
Darren Jackson, a resident of 17 years, said Pikitup has at times not collected refuse for up to two weeks. Julie Fahmay of Chiswick Old Age Home said the elderly have been neglected.
Key facts
- Who
- Shawn George (Coronationville resident who said water issues persist); Ivan George (Coronationville resident, former DA supporter now backing the ACDP); Genevieve Sherman (incumbent DA councillor for Ward 69); Shayelene Kruger (unemployed mother of five campaigning for the DA)
- When
- 26 October 2026
- Where
- Coronationville, Johannesburg, Westbury
- Status
- Reported