THE Merebank Residents Association (MRA) expressed serious concern over eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba’s visit to Wentworth and Merebank on September 23.

The association said the service delivery intervention initiative was aimed at addressing bottlenecks of the service in Ward 68.

Chairperson of the association, Daya Naidoo, said Ward 68 encompasses Austerville, parts of Jacobs and Merebank.

“Communities have for years raised serious concerns about municipal service delivery. Residents were invited to attend the briefing with the expectation that they would receive feedback and importantly have an opportunity to engage directly with eThekwini Municipality leadership about the challenges affecting their communities. That opportunity did not materialise in the manner residents expected,” said Naidoo.

In a statement, the MRA acknowledged that the mayor provided feedback on the sewer problems.

“However, the MRA questions the value of a meeting described as a service delivery intervention if residents most affected by service delivery are not given a meaningful opportunity to speak, question officials and place their concerns directly before the eThekwini Municipality leadership,” said Naidoo.

He added that residents did not come to simply sit in the hall and listen.

“They came because they have problems that needed answers. A service delivery meeting must allow the community to participate meaningfully,” he added.

As part of the eThekwini Municipality’s accelerated programme to restore critical public infrastructure, Xaba led a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary service delivery blitz across the South Durban Basin on September 23.

The intensive deployment targeted ongoing service challenges, focusing on:

• Repairing persistent sewer spillages and water leaks within Austerville, Wentworth, Merebank, Merewent, and Lamontville.

The operation is part of the city’s broader turnaround strategy to deploy technical response teams directly to areas severely burdened by water leaks and sewer spillages.

During the site inspection, which brought teams from eThekwini Water and Sanitation, Xaba monitored technical teams carrying out:

• Repairs.
• Clearing and flushing severe sewer network blockages.

“We have heard the frustration from communities regarding water leaks and the health hazards posed by public sewer overflows. Our goal here is not just to apply temporary fixes, but to ensure our maintenance crews clear backlog systemically, restore the dignity of our residents, and protect our environment from toxic spillages,” said Xaba.

He also warned that public infrastructure misuse remains a primary driver of recurring sewer system blockages across the municipality. He urged community members to safeguard their infrastructure by stopping the disposal of foreign objects in sewer manholes.

Xaba encouraged residents to report illegal water connections, which overload existing water and sanitation infrastructure.

For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.