Cape Town – A teenage boy is reportedly in a critical condition after he was hit by a speeding taxi while fetching water from a tanker in Coronationville, Johannesburg.
The 13-year-old boy was hospitalised following the accident on Wednesday evening, reported News24.
The report said the community of Coronationville was collecting water daily from a water truck on Fuel road, as Johannesburg Water had failed to supply running water to homes and businesses in several parts of the city over the past few weeks.
“My son crossed the road to get water, and when he was done, a taxi came speeding and knocked my son. He is in a critical condition. The doctors have decided to put him in an induced coma,” the report quoted the injured teen’s father, Fabian Sass, as saying.
He added: “Both his lungs have collapsed, and the doctors have put him on a ventilator. He also suffered damage to the brain and had blood clots.”
Rand Water, the bulk supplier to Johannesburg Water recently doubled water restrictions, as city reservoirs ran dry due to high demand, reported Daily Maverick.
The report said a massive infrastructure outage and power cut (not load shedding) at the Vereeniging purification plant had affected pumping.
While the Vaal Dam was 92% full, there was water scarcity, and now Level 2 restrictions were coming across the city.
The report said water tankers were dispatched at affected hospitals and communities.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
