Durban South residents have been warned to prepare for an interruption of their water supplied by uMngeni-uThukela Wiggins Water Treatment Works Gravity System. The eThekwini Municipality has issued a public notice for a planned water outage for areas supplied by the Water Treatment Works Gravity System from the morning of July 8th until the 9th.
The shutdown is necessary to replace 1200mm diameter sales and check meters on the principal bulk pipeline and also repair a leak on the aqueducts that has affected water flow recovery since April. The project will include a complete shut-down of the Wiggins Treatment Works and that will mean no water being delivered to the reservoirs during this time.
Affected areas:
The Bluff.
Austerville.
Wentworth.
Bayhead.
Jacobs.
Clairwood.
Merebank (East).
Merewent.
Montclair.
Woodlands.
The municipality apologises for the inconvenience and assures residents that teams will be monitoring closely to ensure that water supply is replenished as soon as possible once the work is done.
Durban South residents have long had to struggle with problems related to their water, such as pollutants. The risk of water poisoning is high. Hence the need for the repairs. The replacement for the R 1200 milli metres of diameter sales and check meters will prove to be expensive. The municipality should be prepared to have that kind of money to repair the damages on the principal bulk pipeline. Residents for their part have been compelled to buy bottle water to drink as they are at risk of illnesses such as diarrhoea if they drink tap water. The repairs to the water pipelines should be done with speed. It will take two days at the very least.
South Durban Fishermen alongside the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) organized and hosted a multi-location beach picket in support of small-scale fishers and coastal communities recently.
The beach picket’s objective was to fight for the fisherfolks’ rights to fish. According to a statement released by SDCEA, the collaboration showed the power of solidarity, while demanding access to the beach fishing grounds that have been closed off to fisherfolk. SDCEA believe that coastal developments and policies have excluded and policed fisherfolk from using the beach. “A number of beach areas are being privatised and this has negatively affected the livelihoods of fisherfolk. This picket is not to ask for any special treatment but just the right for fisherfolk to protect their livelihoods. The fishermen demand the following:
- Immediate access to beach zones that have been closed off for fisherfolk.
- Recognition of fisherfolk fishing rights.
- Consultation with fisherfolk and coastal communities before any policy decisions are taken.
The picket by the SDCEA and the fishermen is to object to restrictions in the use of Durban’s beaches as well as the conservation of Durban’s coastal waters away from industrial multi corporations such as Shell oil company. The Fishermen and the SDCEA fear any extraction of oil near the Durban coast will cause sever harm and damage to the environment. This could harm the fish and in turn make them (the fish) unsavoury for the fishermen’s livelihoods. A number of beach areas that were open for public use and recreation are now being privatized for commercial use by resort and holiday companies.
- The municipality should forestall all encroachment by private corporations on beach land.
- Fisherfolk should be given their just rights to fish in public waters.
- Consultation of all interest groups and residents by the municipality is essential for maintaining healthy, safe and clean beaches.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
