Durban — A day after the new mayor of Durban visited Inanda Newtown A and promised to address their water challenges, the community continues to demonstrate against the water and sanitation problems facing them.
On Sunday, new eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba visited the water-stricken ward 56 in Inanda Newtown A and Ngoqokazi areas to receive a first-hand report on inherent water challenges confronting that community.
Xaba vowed to seek answers from the relevant authorities about the ongoing water challenges in parts of the municipality.
The Inanda Newtown A communities complained about the shortage of water since the 2022 floods. Some households also complained about their high municipal bills. Residents of Ngoqokazi and Amatikwe said they had intermittent water supply, some were without water for up to 10 years and remained reliant on water tankers.
Xaba said: “I have come to this area after receiving a phone call from the local councillor complaining about persisting water challenges. Having seen first-hand the challenges on the ground, I am now in a better position to understand the plight of the community and will be able to seek appropriate answers from the administration as to why we are having these challenges and when they are planning to resolve them.”
The community welcomed the mayor’s visit and committed to working with the city to find lasting solutions to the water challenges and other service delivery issues.
The water interruptions in the Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu (INK) areas were reportedly due to water loss, the community not reporting leaks and vandalism of water infrastructure.
EThekwini Municipality’s Facebook page has records going as far back as 2013 on water issues surrounding these communities in north Durban.
The Water and Sanitation Unit has also highlighted that the high rate of illegal connections was a challenge and contributed to water interruptions in the areas.
Unit Head Neil Macleod said some of the challenges would be addressed by the Western Aqueduct which will resolve all future supply problems.
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Daily News