WITH concerns of the deteriorating water and sanitation situation in various areas, including The Bluff, becoming a health catastrophe, DA member of the executive committee for water and sanitation, André Beetge, calls for the decisive intervention by metro police in collaboration with eThekwini Municipality’s security providers and police.
He hopes that law enforcement officials will be able to secure the safety of officials and assist to deliver the services. This comes after several water and sanitation related challenges. Beetge said on June 2, officials were alerted to challenges in the waste water department resulting in non-response to reported complaints across the municipality.
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“These appeared related to blockages and pump station operations in particular, that apparently remaining largely unattended since May 31.
“Engagement with senior management confirmed that the city once again found itself victim to intimidation from essentially two groups. On the one hand the infamous business forums and on the other, a group of contractors who refuse to comply to new technology regulations, but who are insistent that the previously used tender and invoicing system remains in use.
“This is coupled with threats of physical harm to officials and damage to vehicles and infrastructure, should any work be carried out prior their grievances being addressed. While there is the perception that metro police are in a position to deliver some protection to life and property while in the depot, they appear by themselves, unable to guarantee the same where teams are dispatched across the broader municipality to attend complaints,” Beetge added.
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He said concerns regarding the matter were raised with the city manager, and a major worry was the possibility that the situation could extend beyond sanitation to include the entire water and sanitation department.
“Despite the city manager committing to address the matter, the inevitable appears to have happened, and we were informed that the water department was contained to their depot resulting from the same threats.
“Personal observation confirms sewage outfall in The Bluff, Amanzimtoti, Isipingo, Chatsworth, the city center, Durban North, Newlands and Umhlanga while my colleagues report similar observations in other areas.
“Likewise, water leaks, burst pipes and damaged water meters contributing the 57% water loss as our scarcest commodity goes lost into the sea. Unfortunately, despite our interaction with the city manager, there remains a deafening silence concerning what is essentially a health disaster waiting to happen.”
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