Disruptions in electricity and water supply prompted residents across eThekwini to protest, highlighting the urgent need for infrastructure repairs and improved service delivery. Picture Credit: East Coast Radio
By Aisha Zardad
eThekwini – Frustrated residents staged multiple protests across eThekwini this week in response to persistent water and electricity disruptions.
On Tuesday night, a power outage near the N2 Chesterville area led to chaos on the freeway, where protesters blocked access roads with rubble and burning tyres. Some motorists reported that their vehicles were stoned, while others tried to remove the centre median barrier to escape the traffic. Many turned to WhatsApp groups to reach emergency services for assistance.
The eThekwini Municipality said the outage affected Chesterville and surrounding areas after a medium-voltage cable fault occurred between the Bramcote Distributor Substation and the Mayville High Voltage substation on Monday, March 9.
“However, a failure occurred on the feeder cable connecting the Ridgeview Substation to the Kaledon Distributor Substation, which resulted in a loss of supply to Chesterville and surrounding areas,” the municipality stated.
Teams have repaired the fault at the Bramcote Distributor Substation, restoring power to some customers, while work continues on the remaining cable to ensure full electricity restoration.
Reservoir Hills water protest: Water disruptions also triggered protests in Reservoir Hills, where residents of the Umgudulu informal settlement blocked the M19 freeway from 6am to 10am on Wednesday. The demonstration caused widespread traffic congestion across surrounding suburbs.
Alicia Kissoon, eThekwini DA Ward 23 councillor, said the settlement has been without reliable water since December 2025 due to ongoing water pressure failures.
“The humanitarian impact of this neglect cannot be overstated because, in this section of the settlement, a single standpipe is forced to serve over 500 residents. When the water pressure fails, hundreds of people are left without water for drinking, and the communal toilets cease to function,” Kissoon explained.
Since January 2026, the area spanning Umgudulu, Varsity Drive, and surrounding roads has averaged one major pipe burst per week. Kissoon added that residents’ patience had reached its limit after years of repeated outages affecting both the settlement and surrounding suburbs.
“The community acknowledged the ongoing work I have done to fight for these repairs. We cannot continue to manage this city through crisis response. We need the department to prioritise the repairs already on the books for several years,” she said.
Verulam placard protest: Water issues also sparked a placard protest on the R102 in Ottawa on Wednesday. Rory Macpherson, eThekwini Ward 102 DA councillor, said the Mount Edgecombe, Parkgate, Verulam, and oThongathi areas were all affected.
“I visited a family who did not have a water supply for a month. There is no accountability for the water crisis. Watershedding is alive and well. The city officials will not admit it,” Macpherson said.
The eThekwini Municipality said interventions are underway in areas experiencing intermittent water supply. It added that growing urbanisation is driving demand, which currently outpaces available resources.
