Phoenix residents demand action over ongoing water crisis

RESIDENTS of Phoenix are voicing their frustrations over a prolonged water crisis, highlighting the impact on daily life and calling for urgent action from local authorities.

Residents and community leaders have said that for the past four years, Ward 48 in Phoenix had suffered with a water crisis. 

Areas such as Clayfield, Stonebridge, Rockford, Greenbury and Campbells Town are without water daily and are often told that it is due to a burst pipe or the reservoir being empty. 

Sally Manoojahdass, a concerned resident and community activist, said they were fed up with the lack of responsibility by the eThekwini Municipality for the water crisis.

“We have been facing water issues for a few years now. I live in Westham and we do not have water on most days. The lack of consistent water supply has been a significant challenge. The water schedule is unpredictable. Sometimes we get water in the mornings from around 4.30am to 8am or 10am but it can go off at any time without notice. There have been days with no water at all,” said Manoojahdass.

She said it was a daily effort to get ready for work. 

“The struggles are immense. Daily life is impacted. We cannot cook, clean, or even flush the toilets properly. Businesses are also affected and water scarcity affects hygiene and health. Children often miss school due to the lack of basic amenities,” she said.

Manoojahdass said the municipality had been working on infrastructure upgrades, but the progress was slow. 

“We have also had some water tankers provided by NGOs and local businesses, but it's not a sustainable solution. Last week, a disaster struck our community. A house was on fire and the flames could not be put out because there was no water. It was devastating for that family.

"Without the water, the fire spread quickly, and the family lost almost everything from the top section of their house. It's heartbreaking and we feel like our pleas for help are being ignored by the city. It's frustrating and scary to think that something like this could happen to any of us." 

Manoojahdass said she was glad that the IFP councillor, Dr Jonathan Annipen, had sent out a call to action.

“The community is hoping for immediate intervention from the municipality to fix the water infrastructure and ensure a consistent supply. We're also seeking support for emergency measures to mitigate the impact of water scarcity on our daily lives. All we want is water coming through our taps on a daily basis. Not forgetting we are still faced with high water bills,” said Manoojahdass. 

Vassie Govender, of the Voice of Phoenix organisation, said their plight had been an on-going battle. 

“We still have poor service of water, sometimes on a daily basis with some communities within the area. At times we can go three days without water and to make it worse, sometimes there is no power for 9 to 10 hours. 

“We always hear that the infrastructure is damaged and that's the issue. However, I do notice throughout the area that as soon as they repair one section, when they open the water, pressure is released and then damages are caused again. So does that not point to infrastructure failure?

“Four years on, I am sure they could find the solution to what is happening. There is also an issue of poor workmanship with contractors coming in the area almost every day and digging up the road. They patch up and leave, then the water becomes a problem again and starts flowing onto the street,” said Govender.

He said he did not know if the water issue would or could be resolved.

“I'm hoping that with a new budget, a good percentage of it would come into our municipality to fix the infrastructure. It is terrible in Phoenix. The water shortages are now extended to Ward 48. The municipality is digging quite deep to find the pipes that are servicing the people in the area.

“We have tried our best to assist in getting some water, especially drinkable water. There are tankers that come in the area sometimes, but these tankers are only giving you water that you can wash or bathe with. It's not drinkable. It is costing people a packet to buy water to drink, especially a community that is really battling economically."

Annipen said the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in Phoenix had raised the alarm bells on countless occasions, calling for immediate and meaningful interventions on the water crisis.

“We now issues a clarion call to every resident in Phoenix. It is time to take to the streets in peaceful but firm protest. We will not sit back as our taps run dry, while those in power live in comfort, shielded by their incompetence and indifference,” he said.

“The Phoenix area, home to a majority Indian population, has been systematically sidelined. How else do we explain the blatant disregard for human suffering in these communities? Why have clinics, hospitals, frail care centres, mental health facilities, schools and homes with elderly and infants been denied consistent water supply for years?”

He said they were demanding a full investigation into the racial bias and neglect of water service delivery in Phoenix and surrounding Indian communities, the deployment of emergency water tanker services until long-term solutions were implemented, and a forensic audit of infrastructure management and spending in the city’s water department.

THE POST