‘We are losing hope': Verulam community battles years of service delivery failures

RESIDENTS of Verulam, north of Durban, are reaching breaking point over persistent water outages, neglected infrastructure, and absent municipal leadership.

As the 2026 Local Government Elections approach, community members share heart-wrenching stories of daily struggles and question whether their votes will bring any meaningful change to their deteriorating living conditions.

Trenance Park - New Phase

Kogie Reddy, 57, said one of their greatest challenges was the ongoing water outages. 

“We have been battling for years to have a consistent water supply from our taps, but we are forced to depend on tankers and the generosity of the public. There seems to be no end. I have about fifty 20 litre buckets and multiple 5 litre bottles piled up in and around my home. This has become our way of life.” 

Reddy, who has been living in the area for the past 37 years, said her day started at 4am. 

“We recently started getting water in our taps from about 4:30am until 8am. My family and I wait at the taps to fill as many buckets and bottles as we can in this time. However, this water is just for cleaning the house, washing clothes, bathing and for the toilet. We try not to waste it. We also try to collect rain water for the toilet. 

“However, we still have to buy water for drinking, which is not cheap. We spend no less than R20 for a five litre bottle of water. Some people cannot afford it, and have to boil the water they collect from the tap or tanker for drinking,” she said. 

Reddy said despite not receiving a constant water supply, her bill at the end of the month was high. 

“We get a monthly utility bill - which includes water, electricity and rates - of about R3 500 to R4 000. The water bill is no less than R1 000. It does not make sense. We also see the water metre spinning, but there is no water in our taps. When we query it, we do not get any proper feedback. However, we pay the bill to avoid the arrears. 

“It is sad as we pay our rates yet there is no proper service delivery. I cannot recall when our verges were last cut. The grass in the open spaces which are municipal-owned land have grown so high, that it is used for criminal activities. Our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. We have lost hope,” she said. 

Reddy, who has been voting for the past 30 years, said she did not know if she would go to the polls this year. 

“Since 1994, I have voted. I also encouraged my children and other family members to make their mark. But, looking at how we are being failed by our government, I keep asking myself, what is the purpose anymore? Every time there is an election, these political parties come into the area giving out t-shirts and making promises after promises. Then they disappear. We can never get a hold of our councillor. 

“I will really have to think carefully this year if I will be voting, and if I do, who I want to vote for. We can no longer keep people in power that are doing nothing for the people in the community that put them in those positions,” she said.  

Dravina Ramai, 42, said one of the issues was the lack of effort to complete jobs, such as repairs to the road following a burst water pipe. 

“In 2023, a portion of the main road was partially dug up for water pipes to be repaired. To date it still has not been covered. At night, and especially with the streetlights not working, it is a major safety concern.  At this same point there is a sewer drain which constantly gets clogged and overflows onto the road.”  

Ramai, who has been living in the area for the past 34 years, said unkempt vacant municipal-owned land had become a dumping ground and a place for vagrants to live.

She claimed the community was “hugely neglected” due to an absent councillor.

 “Since the current councillor's appointment into the ward, we have met him less than five times. There is also no communication between the councillor and residents. We need a co-operative, working councillor who actually takes an interest in uplifting the community.

“For now, residents rely on community volunteers who assist as much as they can, but sometimes it becomes too much as they use their own resources. However, we do engage with the PR councillor who attempts to help as much as he can within his jurisdiction. Hopefully in the upcoming elections, people will vote wisely and we will see a positive change,” she said.

Trenance Park - Old Phase

Logan Moonsamy, 44, said in his area they too were faced with water challenges. 

“This has been an ongoing issue for years, but worsened since 2023. We were told it was due to the damages to infrastructure during the floods. But, it does not make sense as our area was not severely impacted compared to Tongaat. 

“Since then, we go without water in our taps sometimes for up to three days. When we get water it is at about 3am and then after a short while it goes off. We rely on tankers but that too has become scarce.” 

Moonsamy, who underwent a double-amputation to his legs in 2024, claimed this was after he sustained burns under his feet while running on the hot tarmac to collect water, which did not heal. 

He said he developed gangrene. 

“The tankers do not come at a set time so when they do, you have to leave whatever you are doing and run with your buckets. In March that year, I was laying on the bed when my wife shouted that the tanker was coming. I did not think to put on shoes, and ran out the house.

“The tar was so hot that I got burnt under my feet. I went to the hospital and they just put on a dressing. However, after about three weeks it did not heal, and I developed gangrene. They first amputated one of my legs from above my knee. On the other foot, they removed my toes at the time. But then that foot got infected and the gangrene spread - I had to have that leg amputated from just below my knee,” he said. 

Moonsamy said the water crisis had put strain on his family. 

“It is difficult for my wife to carry water from the road, and my father-in-law, who is 75- years-old is not well, so he is also unable to carry heavy buckets. Sometimes, if we can, we pay some youngsters to help us.” 

Moonsamy said to add to their ordeal, they received a R10 000 water bill in December. 

“We usually paid between R400 to R500 a month, and then we got this bill. When my father-in-law and wife went to query, they were not given any explanation but told they have to pay towards it, and make a payment arrangement. 

“My father-in-law receives a pensioner’s grant, while I have a disability grant, which is not a lot of money. But, we had to put our money together and pay so we did not go into arrears. Now, we have to try and figure out how we will make it through the month with the little money we have left,” he said.   

Moonsamy said despite his disappointment, he would still be voting. 

“I will vote, but I don’t think we will see any change until those in power do the right thing and put citizens of this country first, and not themselves.” 

Raymond Kattroyan, 65, said together with water outages, there were safety concerns as the streetlights did not function properly, and a “nature reserve” behind his property. 

“The streetlights are on during the day, but off at night. We report it, but nothing gets done. This leads to vagrants coming into our yards and stealing whatever they can find. There is also a bush behind my home, but when I complained about it, I was told it is a “nature reserve” and it cannot be cleared. We have had people break into our house, and hold up our family with weapons. They then fled through that bush. I put up a fence but they still get into the yard. I fear I will be killed in my home,”  he said. 

He said he was also faced with a utility bill of over R100 000 allegedly due to estimations.  

“They read the metres after every few months. A few years ago I received a bill of about R10 000 which I could not afford to pay as they required at least a 50% payment. I am a pensioner with bad health. How was I supposed to afford that?” 

Kattroyan said he would be voting. 

“I want to be positive, and believe that my vote just might be one to make the difference we need in this community and country. But all we are asking for is the basics - give us water, electricity, and service delivery.” 

Ameen Adham, 23, said poor workmanship to municipal infrastructure was of concern. 

“Repairs to infrastructure is one of the greatest issues. For example, on my road there was a burst water pipe and they had dug up the road in two places. After the repairs were done, the road surface was left in a complete mess. Soon there will be holes in the road which is a safety hazard.” 

He said he would be voting, as he hoped for change. 

“As the youth of this country, I believe we have the power to make the change. I will use my vote, and encourage others to do the same.” 

Mountview

Saaiem Baboolall, 48, said in his area there were various service delivery concerns such as sewer lines and manholes not being cleaned.

Due to this, when there is heavy rain, residents' homes are often flooded. There is also an open drainage system along Mountview Drive which the city has done nothing about for years. Residents have had to live with a bad stench, mosquitoes, cockroaches and rodents. There is also the danger of people falling in. We also have many overgrown bushes and verges which is a security risk to residents as this becomes hideouts for criminals.”

He said a community park had also not been maintained for over a decade. 

“It has become a haven for criminal activities. The Community Policing Forum together with a few residents and business owners had approached our councillor to see if we could adopt the park, and clean it up. He is now assisting us with the process.” 

Baboolall said he would be voting. 

“We can only vote with the hope that the person elected as the ward councillor would uplift the community. However, our current councillor is doing his best.” 

Central Business District

Avinash Mahabir, public relations officer for the Verulam Business Forum, said they had been working tirelessly to uplift the Verulam Central Business District (CBD) which had been plagued with service delivery issues. 

“It is an ongoing battle, but we have seen some significant efforts from some departments within the municipality. But there is still much that needs to be done to combat the decay of the CBD.”

Mahabir said the forum was formed a few years ago to concentrate on the businesses in Verulam, specifically the CBD. 

“In June last year, we started meetings with all the relevant stakeholders from the municipality departments such as stormwater and parks and gardens, among others. We wanted to find out what their challenges were. We also asked what was the difference between Umhlanga and Verulam. If Umhlanga could get services, why could we not as we also pay rates. But they cited resource challenges such as budget and equipment. There were many excuses, but we have continued to put pressure on them to provide better service delivery,”  he said. 

Mahabir said among the issues was the lack of bins in the CBD. 

“Currently, the only bins are those you find hanging off the streetlight poles, which is not enough. We have asked that they put concrete bins - which cannot be stolen- on every road. We also requested that they be cleaned, and not left for days. It is an absolute eye-sore now to see the dirt overflowing from the bins.  

“We also requested that all the manholes and drains be cleaned. When it rains the water stands on the roads, or the sewer back-flows. Last year, we went through the entire CBD we found that 160 streetlights were not working. When the streetlights are not working, we find prostitution, drug abuse and other crimes happening. We reported this, and the repairs are ongoing. 

“We also requested that trees that are hanging over the roads be chopped, and the verges and bushes be cleared. There is also grass growing on the pavements. We are not asking for much, or for the municipality to reinvent the wheel, but to do what is required to ensure better service delivery,”  he said. 

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