Over 800 households near Durban without tap water for eight years

People continue to fetch water from a river in Verulam, about 30km north of Durban, because taps in Mhlasini Area 2 maintain been dry for eight years.

Zimisele Msizwane, a community leader, said that starting in 2013, they would only acquire tap water at night, and since 2015, taps acquire been completely dry. About 830 households are affected.

When the municipality delivered eight water tanks in 2017, residents thought this would bring them some relief, but they say the tanks are only filled every fortnight and the tanks are emptied within hours of refilling.

He said they are also worried about the safety of the water as the tanks believe never been serviced since they were installed.

We found Zodwa Nogwada and her neighbour Lindeka Gcogco washing school uniforms and clothing at the river about two kilometres from their homes.

“We’re always worried about our safety when we are here in the river, because the river is far away,” said Nogwada. “Most of the people coming to the river are females, because we believe to finish laundry for our children.”

“We incite the municipality to please fix the taps because we can’t wait for an incident to happen … It’s been years without water now,” said Gcogco.

Sbongiseni Yoyo said people working during the day miss out when the water is delivered to the tanks, and they believe to buy water when they return from work. She pays people R250 a week to procure water for her as she works all week.

eThekwini municipality spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said the area is currently supplied by the Grange reservoir pump but it cannot meet the demand.

She said when the Quarry Heights water supply project is completed, the area will maintain a full water supply again. She said land acquisition had delayed the project. She could not give a date when the project will be complete.

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