Water leak reports fell on deaf ears, says La Lucia woman

RESIDENTS in both the Durban North and uMhlanga areas are becoming increasingly fed up with what they call the municipality’s ‘don’t care attitude’ when it comes to leaking pipes.

Following one resident’s outrage over the constantly bursting pipes on Davallen Avenue and Wilden Place in La Lucia, wasting litres of precious water during the province’s current water crisis, another resident has come forward, claiming the municipality is deliberately ignoring reports.

When Michelle Lourens called the municipality on Wednesday, 8 July to report the leak on Wilden Place, an employee told her that the leak had not been reported by anyone in the area.

However, Karen McKillop, a resident on the road, recently told the Northglen News that she had in fact reported the issue at least 10 times during the six-week leaking spree.

“Time and time again I contacted the water call centre and told them that the water was leaking through the tar. I was given countless log numbers. Once one of the employees sheepishly admitted to me that they were aware of the issue but have not done anything. He assured me that he would escalate it to his supervisor,” she said.

McKillop added that the municipal workers had even visited the site on several occasions but were never able to determine the source of the leak.

“At first the municipality sent someone out to look at the leak but couldn’t see it. After another call a team came out (Saturday, 20 June), dug for a while to look for the leak and disappeared, hence my verge being dug up and left open with danger tape,” she said.

When she again followed up with regards to the leak she was told there was no leak. Eventually the pipe was repaired on Wednesday, 15 July after McKillop addressed the issue to uMhlanga ward councillor, Heinz de Boer.

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