eThekwini councillor Andre Beetge has called on the municipal management to exert pressure on the National Treasury to pay approximately R1.3 billion in grants that are owed for flood-related damages.
Beetge made the request at a council meeting on Thursday after the municipality had to transfer funds from the eThekwini Water and Sanitation Southern Aqueduct project to conduct urgent repairs to the Prospection Area waste reticulation network, south of Durban.
Between April and June 2023, Durban experienced torrential rainfall, which caused severe flooding and landslides. Infrastructure within the municipality was severely damaged, including the sewer network system.
The municipality has allocated R10 million to rehabilitate and repair the flood-damaged works at Avenue East Main across the Prospection Bridge, which is opposite the Toyota SA depot.
The Prospection Area Waste Reticulation Network is serviced by the Avenue East and Joyner Road pump station.
The pump station’s sewer flows via a 600 mm diameter line to the head of work, which is the Amanzimtoti Wastewater Treatment Works.
According to a report from the eThekwini Trading Services committee, a service provider was appointed in 2023 for the rehabilitation and repairs to flood damage works at the Avenue East rising main.
The works were completed, and only the reconnection of the Toyota Tie-in and the reconnection of the new permanent network were left to be completed.
A service provider was then re-appointed in the 2024/25 financial year for the completion of the works.
While the planning phase with the various eThekwini Water and Sanitation Directorates was under way, it was brought to the attention of the municipality that the 600mm diameter sewer pipe on Prospection Road was leaking.
Beetge, DA eThekwini Ward 97 councillor, was concerned about whether the money allocated would be enough to fix the problem, which has led to the closure of Reunion Beach, a key tourist spot.
Beetge said that when it rains, trees and other debris wash down the river, and it is left to the community to clean up the polluted water.
“Why is the grant taking so long to be paid? We have proved today that we do not have the money to sustain what is not our mandate. We are footing the bill for another sphere of government,” he said.
Desmond D’Sa, coordinator of South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), said urgency to repair broken sewer pipelines was welcomed, but that more needed to be done to eliminate the huge amount of sewerage odour which affects poorer residential areas like Merebank, Newlands, Umlazi, Isipingo, and Umkomaas.
“Pipelines and infrastructure repairs have been neglected for many years, with communities affected by the smell of sewerage daily. They cannot have a meal in their homes. We appeal to the municipality to increase its budget, and service and maintain the sewerage, water, and electricity servitudes,” he said.
