“We are tired of being sidelined and forgotten” Elderly residents are forced to carry water despite their health challenges. Picture: Leon Lestrade
The recent heatwaves and peak-season demand have led to an intermittent water supply in Shallcross and surrounding areas since the festive season, said Gugu Sisilana, the spokesperson for the eThekwini Municipality.
In a statement, she said the "significantly increased water consumption" necessitated an intervention.
“The municipality is aware of the water challenges in parts of Shallcross, Savannah Park,
Queensburgh and Chatsworth in the south of Durban from Christmas. The water supply challenges had affected all areas supplied from the southern aqueduct, where supply is intermittent.
“The city has implemented water rationing in all parts of the southern aqueduct, including Umlazi. The current heatwave and peak season demand have significantly increased water consumption, which necessitated this intervention. There is nothing broken but there is just an increase in demand due to heatwaves, but we anticipate that the demand will normalise when temperatures drop, and reservoirs will start to recover."
Sisilana said the municipality had been communicating with residents affected by the water issues.
“We had done this through media statements on various platforms including social media. Ward councillors also communicated with residents in affected wards."
Last week, Shallcross residents met with the POST to highlight their plight and the challenges they faced due to water cuts. They said they sometimes did not have water for five days at a stretch, and at other times up to three weeks.
Max Shaik, a community leader in Shallcross, said: "Residents are frustrated and threatened to protest to get authorities to solve the water issues. We are tired of being sidelined and forgotten. We need action from the relevant authorities. I constantly speak to the community and urge them not to protest or damage infrastructure and burn tyres. This will not solve anything. We are trying all means of getting our concerns to be addressed."
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