Residents in Ward 51 Phoenix are grappling with a critical water crisis, exacerbated by persistent leaks and municipal inaction, leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks.
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Some Ward 51 residents in Phoenix, north of Durban, say they are growing increasingly frustrated over persistent water leaks from eThekwini Municipality pipes, which they claim repeatedly flood their properties whenever pipes burst in the area.
Residents described the situation as being like “swimming in a pool of water” on their properties every time there is a leak, saying the ongoing flooding has severely affected their living conditions while stagnant water poses a potential health hazard.
Nomathemba Ngcobo, a resident of Tigerpark Place in Shastri Park, said she has been battling the effects of recurring burst pipes for more than a year.
Ngcobo said water had been gushing through the area for weeks at a time without any intervention from the municipality.
“A hole was created on the road by the water that gushed for three weeks. Nobody came to fix it. It was such a waste when other parts of Phoenix do not have water.
“I had to put a stick in the hole to warn drivers of the hazard,” she said.
Ngcobo added that the long-term flooding has left her property waterlogged and caused visible structural concerns near her home.
“For a year, my property has been flooded by water leakages.
“I am scared my house will collapse at any time,” she said.
Another resident, Cynthia Reddy of Earl Manor Place, expressed similar frustrations.
“My pension is my only source of income, yet the government does not want to assist with the water leakage into my property.
“Water is being wasted because of the burst pipe on the road, yet we do not have water to drink on some days. It is a very sad situation,” said Reddy.
Vivian Pillay, a former Democratic Alliance branch chairperson and community activist in the area, criticised what he described as the municipality’s poor response to complaints from residents.
“We have reference numbers for burst pipes on verges and roads.
“Contract plumbers come on site and use cheap materials to stop the leaks. A few days later, the leaks flare up again,” said Pillay.
He said residents had become trapped in a cycle of temporary repairs and recurring infrastructure failures.
The issue of burst pipes and water leaks has become a recurring problem in several parts of Durban.
The eThekwini Municipality has previously acknowledged that it faces a non-revenue water rate of about 54%, largely due to leaks, theft and unmetered water usage.
The municipality has also previously been identified by the Department of Water and Sanitation as one of South Africa’s “leakiest cities”.
Another resident, Johnson, said the situation required urgent intervention.
“It is a huge concern.
“In just two suburbs, I’ve complained about more than 51 recurring leaks,” said Johnson.
The eThekwini Municipality had not responded to questions by the time of publication.
DAILY NEWS