ABOUT 10 retired engineers and artisans recently met with Mayor Cyril Xaba to discuss potential collaboration with the City to address infrastructure issues.

Allison Schoeman, chairperson of the eThekwini United Ratepayers’, Business and Civics Organisation (EURBCO), launched #TeamRescueEThekwini in May to address service-delivery failures and infrastructure issues in eThekwini – with water and sanitation being the immediate focus.

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“This project evolved from my role as vice-chairperson of the Bluff Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association, where I was initially focused on solving problems specific to The Bluff. However, it became clear that the issues on The Bluff were symptomatic of larger systemic problems in the city as a whole,” she said.

Schoeman identified two major concerns: a significant skills gap within the city’s workforce and poor oversight on outsourced contracts.

“These issues, combined with corruption and a lack of accountability, have worsened service delivery, placing a huge burden on residents in the form of unaffordable tariff hikes. One example that deeply concerned me was during an oversight visit with Action SA to various reservoirs across the city, where I learned that a school in Umlazi frequently closes due to a lack of water. This not only highlights the infrastructure crisis but also violates children’s basic right to education,” said Schoeman.

In response, she formed a team of around 20 volunteer experts, including retired engineers and artisans, who are passionate about helping to fix the city.

“Their involvement goes beyond fixing infrastructure; one of our key goals is to transfer skills to younger workers, helping to bridge the skills gap that is contributing to the city’s decline,” said Schoeman.

The meeting, arranged with the assistance of Action SA KZN chairperson Zwakele Mncwango, was promising.

“The mayor expressed enthusiasm about the possibility of working together. We are currently awaiting further feedback to determine how we can move forward and begin implementing solutions,” said Schoeman.

The only two non-civil engineers, Neville Hazell and Peter Langley, both Amanzimtoti residents and experts in industrial instrumentation and process control, with over 40 years of experience each, shared their frustration over their inability to intervene despite knowing how to solve the problems, such as the ongoing sewage leak into the river at Baggies Beach.

“We heeded the call because we are passionate about the industry, our community and the upliftment of our town and country. We know what the issues are and how to fix them; we just need the go-ahead from the municipality to assist them. One of the big issues we discussed is the implementation of water curtailment, which isn’t the correct way to fix the issues the city is experiencing,” they said.

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