PRESSURE is mounting on the eThekwini Municipality to find a permanent solution to the ongoing water crisis which has resulted in water shedding commencing in the south of Durban, and the Democratic Alliance (DA) staging a protest outside the Durban City Hall on Friday.

DA members joined their leadership and community members in raising their voices, chanting “we want water” at the doorstep of City Hall. Their call was echoed by provincial party leader François Rodger who challenged eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba by calling on him to fire city manager Musa Mbhele and the head of eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS), Ednick Msweli.

“Tell your city manager to stay home along with Ednick Msweli,” said Rodgers as he demanded an investigation into the alleged mismanagement of embattled EWS. He said, “It’s been 15 years that the city has been without water. Even a change in leadership, when Mxolisi Kaunda was replaced with Xaba, failed to resolve the water crisis. Residents of eThekwini wake up to empty taps in the morning. It’s time to tell them to voetsek.”

Also Read: City clarifies water restrictor measures

The eThekwini Municipality on Friday morning, February 21, issued a statement confirming scheduled watershedding in areas like Malvern, Queensburgh and Northdene among others. City spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said, “In keeping up with curtailment measures and to manage the high demand, the city confirms that it has implemented further water rationing in areas that are supplied from Reservoir 2 at Durban Heights Treatment Works. This is due to the storage capacity of Reservoir 2 not keeping up to the minimum level. These areas are in the South and Central parts of the city. Rationing is done to build storage. Water is reopened when there are sufficient water levels. Rationing also ensures equitable water supply as it is done rotationally.”

Kate Moonsamy from Malvern, who is among those affected by the water cuts, had a strong message for the leadership of eThekwini, saying, “You are failing us as ratepayers and the people that put their faith in your leadership. Water is a necessity and not a luxury, put yourself in the shoes of the residents. Enough is enough Mr mayor, it’s time for you and the city manager to step aside.”

The memorandum of demands handed over by the DA was accepted by Cllr Nkosenhle Madlala, eThekwini chairperson of the Governance Committee, who said, “They are taking the water issue serious and the DA members of the executive committee should be relaying that message to the community. On Thursday the mayor will announce a turnaround strategy to the crisis. The strategy to saving water is broad, with restrictors to be installed throughout the city.”

The DA gave eThekwini 14 days to respond to their demands, which include an investigation into the alleged R50 million being spent by the city on water tankers every month.

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