Verulam residents protest inconsistent water supply

Angry Verulam residents have given eThekwini mayor Mkolisi Kaunda until the end of today - Tuesday January 23 - to visit the area and have their water supply restored.

The residents, who have been without a constant supply of water for two years following the April 2022 floods, took to the streets on Monday, burning branches, debris and tyres at the intersection of Parkgate and Ottawa.

Roshan Lil-Ruthan, spokesman for the protesting Verulam residents, said they were going to continue protesting unless they received a firm commitment from the municipality with regards to their water supply.

He said in addition to not having any water, the municipal water tanker supply was not consistent, and mainly went to affluent areas in Verulam, Umhlanga and Tongaat.

The community were up in arms after their taps ran completely dry in the past three weeks following the recent heavy rains on Durban’s North Coast.

“We are having a peaceful protest here. We are not harming anyone, or damaging anything. It is against the Constitution for people to be without water for more than seven consecutive days. This is really unacceptable. We want the mayor or his representative here to tell us what is happening and we want to see action. Until that time, we will continue,” said Mr Lil-Ruthan.

By the time this story was published, the municipality had not responded to our requests for comment.