Protests cause serious water delivery disruptions

A NUMBER of motorists travelling on the R102, R66, R34 and P230 were trapped by violent protest action between eShowe and Nkandla on Sunday night.

Scores of protesters took to the roads over the weekend, creating blockages by burning logs and tyres and entrapping motorists for hours.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Community protest at Masangweni blocks R34 to Melmoth and eShowe

The protests are reportedly related to service delivery issues. Rural communities are infuriated that they have been left without water for days on end.

The roads were closed between eShowe and Gingingdlovo, Nkwaleni and eShowe, Nkwaleni and Empangeni, Nkwaleni and Melmoth, and Melmoth and Nkandla.

SAPS and Public Order Police responded and some roads were reopened by Monday morning.

Mike Patterson, of Zululand Business Against Crime, said police were particularly concerned about a diesel truck trapped between the blockages on Sunday night.

‘Luckily the cars and trucks were able to turn around after police cleared the roads.’

Meanwhile, the King Cetshwayo District Municipality acknowledged the community’s frustrations, saying the municipality’s infrastructure is being held ransom by former service providers.

‘The municipality had for 17 years outsourced its water services for rural areas and some small towns of the following municipalities – uMfolozi Municipality, uMlalazi, Mthonjaneni and Nkandla – to Water and Sanitation Services South Africa (WSSA).

‘The contract was deemed to be unlawful and was criticised by the Auditor General.

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‘As an act of good governance, it was necessary to seek a new service agent,’ the district municipality said in a statement.

‘The municipality undertook a phased-out approach for a period of 12 months, ending on 30 June, to minimise service delivery disruptions.’

The statement said the municipality engaged Umgeni Water to provide water services from 1 July, which WSSA employees did not take kindly to.

‘The municipality now experiences serious challenges as the employees of the previous service provider are denying access to municipal and Umgeni Water employees who must provide the services.

‘Access to water plants and treatment works are being blocked, and we are prevented from supplying water to our communities. Employees are intimidated and threatened,’ the statement said.

Operations have been affected at big plants such as Nkandla Bulk, Middledrift, the Phobane/Goedetrouw purification works, Kwahlokohloko, Mzimele pump station and other small purification plants such as Obanjeni, Pikiliyeza and Ekuphumuleni.

‘This effectively means that the entire district is now experiencing serious acts of sabotage. Depriving people access to water infringes on their basic human rights.

‘We wish to make our communities aware that we are doing our utmost to normalise the situation. The delivery of services is our core priority at this stage.’

In response, WSSA said that, as of 1 July, all staff, systems and assets belonging to the district municipality had been transferred back to them.

‘The King Cetshwayo District Municipality has assumed full responsibility for the management operation and maintenance of its water and wastewater treatment facilities, and associated bulk distribution infrastructure,’ said CEO of WSSA, Dumi Luthuli.

‘WSSA thanks the King Cetshwayo District communities for their co-operation and support over the years that the company has rendered their water-related services.’

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