SOME community leaders in Merebank have expressed their anger at eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba after yet another meeting with residents was postponed.

The mayor was due to meet with the residents on January 22 in Merebank to address sewage issues that residents have been grappling with for many years.

Also read: Growing frustrations over uncut grass in Merebank

However, the day before the proposed meeting, the office of the mayor informed the public that the meeting will be postponed, saying that the municipality needs time to engage community members around matters relating to the functioning of wastewater treatment works in their area.

Chairperson of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCE), Desmond D’sa said, “I am not disappointed because this is not the first time the mayor failed to pitch up in a community meeting. He has done it previously to the residents of Wentworth, where he was supposed to address service delivery issues to the community, but he never attended.

He said Wentworth has no service delivery at all.

“The entire area, including our government-owned facilities, are in a mess and residents complain on a regular basis about Wentworth Hospital and Austerville Clinic, and the Austerville swimming pool,” said D’sa.

Also read: Merebank residents relieved – municipality to replace ageing infrastructure

Residents express concerns over poor service delivery

A Merebank resident, Ringo Naidoo, said, “Tree felling is not completed, trucks work for three hours and leave. Jobs are incomplete. Overgrown trees are causing property damage. Streetlights are still not attended to on the main roads, causing poor visibility.”

Naidoo also complained about the malfunctioning sewer pump at the Himalayas sports field that needs constant maintenance.

“It requires a second pump to share the workload. Parks and Gardens need to maintain the vacant municipality properties on a regular cycle. The contractors that cut the grass on the verges are not compliant. The Himalayas sports field change room is a drug den. It must be closed or broken down.”

EThekwini Municipality gives residents assurance that a new date will be announced

Municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said in a statement the meeting was postponed to allow the municipality time to engage community members around matters relating to the functioning of wastewater treatment works in their area.

A new meeting date has not been announced by the municipality.

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.