Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
11 January 2025 | 17:26 CAT

The Verulam Water Crisis Committee emailed a letter to the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, calling for urgent intervention into the supply of water to the northern suburbs of Durban. | VERULAM COMMUNITY

The Verulam Water Crisis Committee has ramped up efforts to address the water shortages affecting over 4,000 households in Verulam and nearby areas. Spokesperson Roshan Lil-Ruthan has expressed frustration over delayed responses from the eThekwini Municipality and outlined the committee’s interventions during an interview with Radio Islam International.

Lil-Ruthan highlighted the critical issues, saying, “For seven days, residents in areas like Tennant’s Park had no potable water. In Tongaat’s Imona area, households endured up to three weeks without water. It was only after escalation to Deputy President Paul Mashatile that relief was initiated.”

Efforts to bring relief have involved multiple stakeholders, including the South African Human Rights Commission and the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal. However, the delays have caused unnecessary suffering, particularly for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children.

“It’s heartbreaking,” Lil-Ruthan added, sharing an elderly resident’s plea: “I cannot carry water up two flights of stairs every day.”

The committee has criticized the municipality’s mismanagement, citing equipment failures and a lack of accountability. According to Lil-Ruthan, the telemetry systems, which should have flagged failing pumps, were either ignored or non-operational.

“Senior officials in eThekwini Water and Sanitation only acted after pressure from the highest levels of government. Yet, these are issues they were informed about weeks earlier,” said Lil-Ruthan.

The crisis has far-reaching consequences, including the inability of the fire department to respond to emergencies due to a lack of water, resulting in tragedies. Lil-Ruthan emphasized, “We lost lives in Tennant’s Park and Verulam due to this negligence. Consequential management must be enforced.”

Residents and the committee continue to advocate for consistent communication from authorities and accountability for systemic failures. “Put people first,” Lil-Ruthan urged, referencing South Africa’s Batho Pele principles.

As the region braces for intense heat, the committee reiterates its call for sustainable solutions to ensure residents’ access to this basic human right.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round Up with Annisa Essack and Roshan Lil-Ruthan here.