Bluff ratepayers form team to tackle service delivery problems
Durban — The Bluff Ratepayers and Residents Association (BRRA) stated that the newly formed Team Rescue eThekwini initiative is resolving service delivery issues speedily and efficiently.
This comes after Bluff resident Naomi Harrison had a dreadful week following a broken sewer pipeline that overflowed onto her premises making it even difficult for her to access her vehicle.
Harrison had to contend with the smell and “the slow pace of the municipality in conducting the necessary repairs timeously”.
On Sunday, the municipality completed the repairs and cleaned her yard. Harrison said a team putting up a retaining wall in her backyard found the damaged pipeline and on Friday repairs commenced. Harrison said this was the third leak in her yard. Her frustration was with municipal staff who arrived without the proper equipment.
“I was frustrated by the prospect of waiting for eThekwini to acknowledge the issue, send someone to come unblock the drains that are not blocked, and then close the case without resolution. Despite diligently paying rates and taxes, I find myself pleading for basic services. It is unacceptable that taxpayer funds are used to pay salaries for services we do not receive,” Harrison said.
Allison Mariska Schoeman, Vice Chairperson of BRRA said she was aware of the ongoing sewage issues affecting Treasure Beach. She said, “We recognise the frustration that residents have faced with recurrent blockages and overflows, which have been detrimental to both property and the nearby beaches.”
She added that she had formed a team of experienced engineers, including former municipal staff, to assist in addressing these very issues. Schoeman said this dedicated team, which collectively brings over 100 years of expertise, recently met with city management to discuss how they could volunteer their knowledge to help resolve critical infrastructure challenges.
“Our discussions with eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba were positive and led to immediate action from senior municipal officials. During a recent on-site inspection at the Bluff Golf Course, we took the opportunity to raise the issue of the sewer line in Ballerina Terrace.
“On the same day, municipal teams unblocked the affected line, and further investigations revealed that a broken sewer pipe between two properties was causing sand and debris to enter the line, leading to frequent blockages,” Schoeman said.
Schoeman said while they cannot confirm with certainty if this is the sole cause of the problems at Treasure Beach, they are confident that once the pipe is repaired, the BRRA will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure there are no further disruptions.
The BRRA, she said, also addressed the St. Geran Road pump station issue earlier this year, and the necessary repairs were carried out by the municipality.
“We remain committed to collaborating with local authorities to identify long-term solutions. Together, we are working towards a cleaner, more efficient infrastructure system that benefits all residents,” Schoeman said.
Schoeman encouraged all residents to join the BRRA to build strong relationships with municipal officials to drive change.
eThekwini ward 66 Councillor Zoe Solomon said the municipality is still not on a trajectory of preventative maintenance but active representation is key to forcing a solution.
Solomon said the lack of resources has not improved for people on the ground, except with the new budgets having been passed within the last three months she was hopeful that operations will be prioritised.
“With the recent split of Human Settlements and infrastructure committees, they now have a dedicated team to concentrate on the infrastructure under the services committee. We remain hopeful but ratepayers deserve swifter action in light of the merry-go-round of constant issues. When the representatives are repeatedly pointing out the same patterns it makes for broken relationships between officials and residents alike,” Solomon said.
“The department should improve detection and the prosecution of the perpetrators blocking pipes. The prevention of overflowing sewage in the streets and yards would not be possible if both pumps in the station down the road were working at an optimum. They are not. More often than not one is malfunctioning and not even on. Perfectly maintained pump stations keep the sewage in the sewerage system,” Solomon said.
EThekwini Municipality spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said the Sanitation Unit is investigating the cause of the recurring blockage in Treasure Beach on the Bluff and will implement a permanent solution based on the outcome of the investigation.
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