Residents of Trenance Park New Phase in Verulam, north of Durban, are experiencing ongoing water outages, leaving many without a consistent supply. The prolonged disruption affects daily life in the area, causing significant hardship. By Wednesday, most roads within Trenance Park had water restored, indicating a partial resolution to the widespread issues that had plagued the community. However, the New Phase continues to grapple with inconsistent service, noting persistent challenges in the community's access to vital resources. These outages have impacted between 500 to 700 homes across 12 roads in Trenance Park, showing the widespread nature of the problem.
Personal Toll of the Crisis
A recent water outage in Trenance Park extended for 10 days, severely impacting residents. Kogie Reddy, 57, a single mother, has been particularly affected by the crisis. Her eldest son passed away on Easter Monday, adding immense personal tragedy to her daily struggles. "My boy, who passed on Easter Monday, had a massive heart attack," Reddy stated, adding, "I just lost my child, and he was the sole breadwinner in my home." Despite the challenges and lack of consistent supply, the Reddy household pays approximately R3,500 monthly for water service. Reddy described the physical strain of the crisis, saying, "It’s not easy carrying a 20-litre bucket up my steep driveway." Compounding her difficulties, Kogie Reddy suffers from arthritis, which further exacerbates the challenge of manually collecting water. She fears the impact on her own health: "For me to be carrying water all my life, I think I’ll be the next one to get a heart attack and die." Another resident reported that it takes at least an hour to fill a 5-litre bottle of water due to a tap that barely drips, illustrating the dire situation many face. Reddy urged authorities to address the situation, noting, "They need to really get serious and see what is happening... And our clothes are just piling up; I can’t even put water in the machine." Mandla Nsele is the eThekwini Municipality’s marketing and communications director.
Municipal Failures and Wider Outages
The disruption in Trenance Park was initially attributed to a phase failure at the TP1 reservoir, which supplies the TP3 area. Power was restored to TP1 on Friday, May 29, but the pumps at TP1 subsequently developed technical faults on the same day. It was also noted that the TP3 reservoir lacked electricity, rendering its pumps inoperable and preventing water distribution. A municipal team was dispatched to the TP3 reservoir following calls from volunteers working to address the crisis, seeking to restore functionality to the essential infrastructure.
Separately, the Verulam CBD experienced its own six-day water crisis. This issue stemmed from a burst 375mm asbestos cement pipe located on Ireland Street. Repair teams attempting to fix the pipeline were initially blocked from accessing the Ireland Street site by a property owner, causing delays in addressing the critical infrastructure failure. Despite these delays, the Ireland Street pipeline was completed and successfully pressurised on June 3. By midday on June 3, 95% of the Verulam CBD community had received water following the repairs, bringing relief to businesses and residents in the urban core.
Community Action and Official Oversight
The water outage impacted between 500 to 700 homes across 12 roads in Trenance Park, affecting a significant portion of the community. Dravina Ramai, a Ward 59 community activist and volunteer with the Verulam Water Crisis Committee (VWCC), has been actively involved in addressing the situation, working to alleviate the suffering of residents. The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is also addressing water access issues in Trenance Park and other affected areas, indicating the severity and systemic nature of the problem. Pavershree Padayachee, the SAHRC provincial manager in KZN, confirmed the commission's involvement and commitment to finding solutions. The SAHRC collaborated with the municipality over the weekend to find solutions, applying pressure for improved service delivery. The municipality committed to prioritising the water situation in Trenance Park, acknowledging the urgency of the matter. The SAHRC noted a rise in water-related complaints following its 2022 inquiry into similar issues, suggesting a persistent challenge in ensuring equitable water access across the region.
