Protests over water

By Sinethemba Mthabela

Locals barricaded the street

Kwa Zulu-Natal is popular for its tourist attraction sites adorned by the tranquil Indian Ocean that makes for a beautiful scenery.

This introduction paints a wonderful picture right? But unfortunately not everything is all rosy.

23 years into democracy and the inequalities of this country continue to affect the poor. 2019 started off with protests over poor service delivery as well as a water crisis that has been looming, in Ladysmith, for almost a decade.

The area most affected is Ezakheni township situated on the outskirts of Ladysmith. Residents are fuming over the continuous water cuts, despite heavy rains, and the municipality's incompetence in dealing with the matter.

It is alleged that some officials from the Uthukela Municipality District have concocted a money-making scheme from the people's suffering.

According to residents the water supply is allegedly cut on purpose in order for water tankers to be leased out to affected areas. These tankers are believed to belong to certain officials who then pocket the funds.

A week barely passes without seeing residents lining up in the street with buckets and laundry basins to fill them up with water. 

"Our township is always the target and for what reason I don't know. You won't find this problem in the suburbs because every issue is fixed within minutes", complains Njabulo Radebe.

To express their frustration residents barricaded the main road with stones and burning tyres and vowed not to vote this year. Lucky Xaba says, "I'm not wasting my time and energy by voting for a government that has clearly failed us. For people planning on voting rather vote for other opposition parties". 

In December plain-clothed Hawks agents raided the municipality's offices in connection with an on going investigation and confiscated important documents.

Some senior officials were taken in for questioning but no arrests have been made thus far. The Uthukela Municipality District could not be reached for comment. Look out for more stories on #MishMashReload