Protesters from communities across the Eastern Cape have promised 'harsher action' if their objections about the lack of water services, poor quality of water and high water bills are ignored. But the chances of the province supplying water to everybody in the near future are almost zero, with one municipality estimating that it would take R20-billion or 20 years to eradicate its backlogs.

Residents from several local municipalities in the Eastern Cape recently marched to the offices of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to protest against the water crisis in their villages.

The campaign was led by the Inyanda National Land Movement. The group's chairperson, Monwabisi Jende, said Eastern Cape residents have had enough of sharing their unclean water with animals.

"We are here to air our concerns around the issue of water and old infrastructure in particular," he said.

"It's a long time for our areas to be without water. We haven't had water since 2018. That is why we are here - for our voices to be heard," he said.

"The water crisis is happening across the province, but it is worse under the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality. There are villages far away from Qonce (King William's Town) and they are living without water reticulation. You can't deprive a human being of water for so many years. It is like killing them. Water is an essential service," said Jende.

This was the second protest organised by the Inyanda National Land Movement, but they have yet to receive a response from government.

Pheello Oliphant, spokesperson for Cooperative Governance and Traditional...